§ 54. Mr. McEnteeasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the large number of accidents to 2065 civil airplanes leaving registered airports in this country which are due to adverse weather conditions, he will take the necessary steps to see that the taking-off of aircraft in such cases should not be left to the discretion of pilots, but that a responsible official should be on duty at such airports with power to override a pilot's decision to take off where he considered it dangerous to the passengers or crew that the pilot should do so?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadNo, Sir. I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton (Lieut.-Commander Fletcher) on 27th January last.
§ Mr. McEnteeIn view of the fact that pilots have to make this decision on their own, and also in view of the fact that they are men employed, would the hon. Member not agree that they would be inclined to take unnecessary risks, for fear of losing their employment?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadI would not accept that. I think it must be agreed that the person who eventually has to exercise his discretion as to the safety of the passengers must be the pilot himself. He is naturally given all information at the aerodrome, but I do not think it would be in the public interest that a person other than the pilot should be given ultimate discretion.
§ 56. Mr. Perkinsasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the total number of lives lost as a result of air-liners taking off in Q.B.I. conditions from Croydon aerodrome since 1st December, 1936?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadEighteen, in two accidents.
§ Mr. MontagueIs any responsibility accepted at Croydon for the cockpit equipment of foreign planes?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadI could not say that off-hand. Perhaps the hon. Member will put the question down.
§ Mr. ThurtleFor the information of the House, would the hon. Gentleman say what is the derivation of these initials, Q.B.I.?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadNo, I am afraid I cannot.