HC Deb 09 February 1955 vol 536 cc1882-4
22. Mr. Janner

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of days on which traffic in each airport in the United Kingdom was held up or delayed through fog during the last six months.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As the answer is very detailed and contains a large number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

TABLE OF OCCURRENCE OF LOW VISIBILITY DURING THE HOURS OF OPERATION AT U.K. AIRPORTS DURING THE MONTHS OF AUGUST, 1954 TO JANUARY, 1955

The criteria selected are:—

  1. (a) Visual range less than 440 yards (possible landing delays)
  2. (b) Visual range less than 150 yards (possible landing and take-off delays)

Airport Number of days and number of hours per day in the six months August, 1954 to January, 1955, when:—
(a)

Visual range less than 440 yards but not less than 150

 (b)

Visual range less than 150 yards
Days Hours per day Days Hours per day
Birmingham/Elmdon … 4 5, 4, 2, 5. 3 4½, 4, 2.
Belfast/Nutts Corner … 2 3, 1. 1 1.
Blackbushe … 18 3½, 5½, 5½, 1½, 4½, 4½, 1½, 3½,8½, 11, 5, 9½, 1,6½, 2½, 1, 3½, 10. 8 4, 1, 1½, 1, 3½, 4, 1, 2½.
Bournemouth/Hurn … 24 6, 1, 6½, 3½, 1½, 8, 1, 8¾, 3, 2, 5¼, 10½, 3½, 10, 2½, 2, 1½, 3, 6¾, 2, 5, 1½, 1½, 5. 6 1, 1¾, 7½, 1, 1½, 1.
Bovingdon … 14 1, 3½, 5½, 5, 4, 4, 2, 16½, 1½, 1, 23, 13, 10, 3. 13 1, 1, 2½, 2½, 1, 3, 1, 10, 8½, 7, 22, 2, 1.
Bristol/Whitchurch … 5 1, 1, 3, 6, 8. 2 1,3.
Cardiff/Rhoose … 3 2, 3, 2. 2 3, 1.
* Croydon … 14 3½, 2¼, 2, 9½, 5, 12, 4, 3, 1½, 2½, 2, 1, 6, 14½. 5 2½, 4, 2½, 11½, 6½.
Glasgow/Renfrew … 11 1, 4½, 5¾, 5½, 16½, 3, 1, 4, 10½, 3, 4. 3 1, 2, 2.
*Gatwick … 7 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2, 7. 2 1, 6.
Liverpool/Speke … 9 1, 12, 1½, 1½, 3, 2¼, 5¼, 1½, 1½. 3 7, 1½, 1½.
London Airport … 9 1½, 3½, 1½, 1½, 1½, 2½, 6, 3½, 1½. 15 5½, 6½, 3, 1½, 2, 2, 10, 3, 8, 4, 5, 2, 1½, 5, 9.
Manchester/Ringway … 4 14, 3, 1, 2. 2 14, 2.
Prestwick … Nil Nil
Southampton/Eastleigh … 7 3, 2, 2, 2, 3½, 1½, 2½. 7 2½, 1½, 2, 1½, 3, 1, 2½.
Stansted … 15 3½, 3½, 7½, 8, 1, 3, 4½, 4½, 1½, 1, 11½, 8, 2, 3½, 1. 10 1½, 6½, 5, 4, 2, 2, 3, 6, 1½, 1½.

NOTES:

  1. (1) The measurements used in compiling this table were taken along the runway in use, except where starred, in which case meteorological visibilities were used.
  2. (2) Whether and to what extent traffic was actually delayed on any of these occasions is not known.