§ 33. Mr. EVERARDasked the Secretary of State for Air how many accidents to civil aircraft in the last three years have, in the opinion of the inspector of accidents, been due to errors on the part of the pilots concerned, and in how many cases the licences of those pilots have been cancelled or withheld by the Air Ministry?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)During the three years ending 31st December last, 2000 116 accidents notifiable under the regulations were attributed by the inspector of accidents to error of judgment on the part of the pilot. Of these only 44 were of sufficient importance to justify a formal report by the inspector. These included pilots holding "A" as well as "B" licences, and only one of these accidents occurred in the course of regular air transport. In three instances a pilot's licence was suspended, but I should add that in many cases the question of suspension does not naturally arise.
§ 36. Mr. RALPH BEAUMONT (for Major HERBERT)asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the full report made by the inspector of accidents to the Air Minisry on the fatal accident which took place at Heston aerodrome on the 16th June will be made public?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERAs I informed the hon. and learned Member for East Leicester (Mr. Lyons) on 18th July, the conclusions of the inspector of accidents will be published in due course.