HC Deb 06 May 1937 vol 323 c1241
66. Mr. Perkins

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the Goodrich Rubber Company have produced a de-icer for aeroplanes; for what reason Imperial Airways continue to experiment with another system now being slowly developed by the Dunlop Rubber Company; and whether he will suggest to Imperial Airways that the Goodrich de-icer should be fitted on all their machines until such time as they have further developed the Dunlop deicer?

The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Sir Philip Sassoon)

As I stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Pancras North (Mr. Grant-Ferris) on 28th April, a opy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend, I do not think that sufficient experience has been gained to justify pronouncing in favour of any particular device. In these circumstances I think it would be agreed that it would not be right for me to take the initiative in suggesting to Imperial Airways the adoption of the Goodrich de-icer in preference to the system with which they are experimenting.

Mr. Perkins

Will the right hon. Gentleman spend the Whitsuntide recess in flying over to America and seeing for himself how extraordinarily efficient this device is?

Sir P. Sassoon

I am fully aware of the qualifications of the Goodrich Rubber Company's device, but the advantage of the Dunlop system is that it can be fitted to all vulnerable parts.