§ 21. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Mooreasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on what grounds and by what authority B.O.A.C. have issued a general prohibition against night flying.
Mr. LindǵrenNo such prohibition has been issued. Night flying is normal practice on the overseas services operated by that corporation.
§ Sir T. MooreIs the hon. Gentleman aware that night flying has been prohibited between Prestwick and Belfast?
§ Sir T. MooreMay I substitute B.E.A.C. for B.O.A.C.?
Mr. LindǵrenIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman had put down a question about 1370 B.E.A.C., I would have been prepared to answer it. So far as B.E.A.C. is concerned, there is no prohibition of night flying. The services from the continent do, in fact, come in to Northolt during the hours of darkness. What has been done, so far as internal services in this country are concerned, is that, as a safety measure and in view of the lack of certain ground facilities, time tables have been so arranged as to allow all landings of these internal services to take place during the hours of daylight, so far as possible.
§ Sir T. MooreAs night flying has been carried out both in war and peace for some considerable time with considerable success, why this sudden change of policy?
Mr. LindǵrenThere is no change of policy. It has always been the policy of B.E.A.C. that, so far as possible, until all landing aids are available, aircraft on the internal services shall land during the hours of daylight.