§ 21. Sir Robert Birdasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is now in a position to state the result of his consideration of the methods employed by foreign competitors of British air lines for protection against ice accretion; and in particular whether he will now adopt the recommendation of the Civil Airworthiness Committee appointed by the Air Ministry that the equipment of British air liners with de-icing systems shall be made compulsory?
§ Sir K. WoodAs I informed the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Mr. Day) on Wednesday last, the issue of further regulations on the subject of de-icing equipment for passenger-carrying aircraft is under review and it is hoped to make an early statement. The recommendations of the Civil Airworthiness Committee published in Air Ministry Pamphlet No. 86 were implemented by the issue of Air Navigation (No. 3) Regulations, 1938, which came into force on 1st November last. Since then the protection of instruments and radio apparatus in aircraft capable of carrying ten or more persons including crew, whenever weather conditions predisposing to ice formation are indicated, has also been made compulsory by the issue of the Air Navigation Regulations, 1939, which came into operation on 1st April last.
§ Sir R, BirdWhile thanking the Minister for his reply, may I impress upon him the urgency of doing something in this matter, in view of the great increase in the number of aircraft and the near approach of ice-forming conditions in the early autumn?