HC Deb 25 June 1952 vol 502 cc2212-4
5. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation how many helicopters are currently licensed for flight in the United Kingdom, excluding machines used by Her Majesty's Forces; for what purposes such machines are used; who owns them; and whether any are regularly employed for passenger carrying by charter companies or the air corporations.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Twenty-five helicopters are on the U.K. Register, of which 11 are operational for purposes of hire and reward. Of these 11 machines, four, owned by Messrs. Pest Control, Limited, are employed in general agricultural use, five, owned by B.E.A., are in use in general experimental work for commercial purposes, etc., and two owned by Messrs. Westlands are available for general commercial usage. None is at present employed for passenger carrying on scheduled services.

Mr. Nabarro

Do not these figures reveal a startling deficiency? Is there no opportunity of speeding developments in this important field of aviation, in view of the extraordinary versatility of the helicopter and its proved capacity for both passenger and mail carrying, cable laying and a wide variety of industrial purposes?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I do not think that we have anything to be ashamed of in our helicopter development progress. The United Kingdom has produced the first two-engined helicopter, the Bristol 173, has much the most commercial experience, has produced the first scheduled passenger services, and has the first certificate for blind flying in helicopters.

Mr. Grimond

Have any experiments at all with the helicopter been carried out among the Scottish Islands; and if not, when does the Minister hope that such experiments may be made?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I will certainly look into that.

Sir R. Glyn

Would it be possible to put in the Library of the House a full account of the use made of the helicopter in the United States in connection with transport generally?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I will consider that.

Mr. Rankin

Can the Minister say how the operational costs of using a helicopter for civilian purposes compare with those of the ordinary type of machine in use today?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

That is quite another question.

6. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he will take steps to study and keep abreast of the rapid development of the helicopter for passenger, mail and freight work in the United States of America, with a view to application of American technique and operational practice in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

American helicopter development work is continuously studied by all those concerned.

Mr. Nabarro

But would my right hon. Friend not agree that there are very large numbers of helicopters in daily use in the United States of America, where they are used continuously, for instance, for mail carrying; and is it not rather a departure from fact in this matter to say that Britain is ahead of the United States of America when we have merely—I do not wish to be disparaging—only 25 machines in use?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

As I said, I will consider the request of my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) to put information in the Library. I would point out that conditions in this country are quite different from those in America. In this small island we are concentrating on the development of twin-engined helicopters in the belief, as at present advised, that they are safest for our crowded and closely grouped population. That is the reason for any differences that may exist.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Does the Minister agree that British aircraft manufacturers have proved that they are foremost in the world in aircraft development; and, if so, will he repudiate the inferred reflection which appears in some of these Questions?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I quite agree. I think that we are taking the lead, but that is no excuse whatever for complacency.

7. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation whether plans or scale models, or both, are now available for examination by Members of Parliament and others showing the converted structure of a London or provincial railways terminus for use as a helicopter station; and whether any continuing investigation f this matter is proposed.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

It may be possible eventually to use such sites for helicopter operation but practical planning must await more data on the characteristics of twin-engined helicopters. The answer to the first part of the Question is, therefore, "No, Sir."