43. Air Commodore Harveyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, how long it takes for Fog Investigation Dispersal Operation's apparatus at Blackbushe and Manston airports to be brought into operation after a request has been made.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (Mr. Beswick)It would take a maximum of five minutes from the pilot's initial request to Air Traffic Control to the time the executive order is given. From that point, I am informed that the apparatus at Manston can be fully operational within 30 minutes.
As I informed the hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. G. Ward) on the 8th November, 1950, F.I.D.O. is not now available at Blackbushe.
Air Commodore HarveyDoes the hon. Gentleman mean by that that when a request is made, within 30 minutes the fog dispersal equipment could be operated? Will he say why the equipment at Blackbushe is not available?
§ Mr. BeswickThe equipment at Blackbushe is not available, because, as I said last week, during the time it was available, with the attendant expense, it was 1712 never required by any aircraft landing. In our view, one installation at Manston is sufficient. In reply to the first part of the supplementary question, I meant what I said, that within a total of 35 minutes, this apparatus can be fully operational.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydCan the hon. Gentleman say whether Manston aerodrome is equipped with a blind approach system to work in co-operation with F.I.D.O.?
§ Mr. BeswickYes, Sir.