49. Air Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Civil Aviation to make a statement on the recent negotiations beween Mr. Hardingham of the Air Registration Board and United State officials concerning the recognition of British certificates of airworthiness in the United States of America.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAs the answer is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Air Commodore HarveyAs the answer is an important one to this House, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that in the meantime, while negotiations are taking place, he will on no account agree to the Americans sending over teams of technicians to progress this work through the British factories, thus gaining all the "know-how" and knowledge?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI agree that this is a most important question, and it is our hope and belief that when this aeroplane—the Comet III—is flown and has qualified for a British certificate, the way will have been cleared for the issue of an American certificate, at or about the same time. In regard to the other point to which my hon. and gallant Friend referred, while the exchange of information as to the working of an aircraft is, of course, inevitable and desirable, technical matters on the production side can, we feel, be safely left to the ordinary, prudent, commercial friendly rivalry between various manufacturers.
§ Mr. BeswickDo we gather that the principle is now going to be accepted by the Americans that if we in this country say that an aircraft is airworthy, they will accept our word for it, as was the original agreement?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI think that the hon. Gentleman knows that the United States have taken up to now the line that they are willing to deal with turbine—engined aircraft only on an ad hoc basis. The reply to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT is, I think, a satisfactory answer, but I shall be quite ready to answer further questions on this matter on a future occasion.
Air Commodore HarveyAs the matter is being negotiated by the Government, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the Government will not be too weak, and will not allow the Americans to come over here and gain the "know-how" and knowledge of this industry.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the proper interests of British aviation, of which we are very conscious, will be properly and fully safeguarded.
Following is the answer:As I informed my hon. and gallant Friend on 12th November last, the United States authorities are willing at present to deal with turbine-engined aircraft only on an ad hoc basis. This is because they have not yet been able to establish their own domestic airworthiness requirements for turbine-engined civil aircraft. The discussions between officers of the Air Registration Board and of the Civil Aeronautics Administration were intended to ascertain and, as far as possible, reach agreement on the airworthiness requirements of the Civil Aeronautics Administration for ad hoc certifications.The discussions were directed to a review of the technical aspects of the De Havilland Comet Mark III which has been ordered by an American operator. The Air Registration Board were able to satisfy the American authorities on many of the British requirements to which the aircraft is being designed, while other requirements were reserved for further consideration, the Civil Aeronautics Administration indicating that they anticipated no difficulty in reaching final agreement. In a third small, but important field, the Americans have expressed doubts and indicated a need for further detailed study. At the close of the discussions, a joint announcement was made stating that there do not appear to be insurmountable obstacles to eventual agreements on certification standards for turbine-powered aircraft.The discussions will continue and I am hopeful that complete agreement will he reached on the technical standards and that, when the aeroplane has flown and qualifies for a British certificate, the way will have been cleared for the issue of an American certificate at or about the same time.