HC Deb 25 November 1957 vol 578 cc801-2
41. Mr. Cronin

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement on the progress being made by the Gardner Committee in overcoming the engine icing troubles of the Britannia long-range turbo-prop airliners.

The Minister of Supply (Mr. Aubrey Jones)

Yes, Sir. The Britannia aircraft, while it has satisfied all the icing tests laid down by the Air Registration Board, has encountered since May last an unusual and previously unsuspected set of icing conditions in which dry ice and wet ice are found together. There is now good ground for believing that the resulting problem will be overcome by a device involving the concentration of jets of air on certain critical points in the engine intake. Ground tests of this device have given very promising results and flight tests in tropical icing conditions are about to start. The device is a simple one; it can be readily applied to existing engines and all engines coming off the production line from early in the New Year will be equipped with it. The flight tests about to begin will also cover other possible solutions of the problem.

Mr. Cronin

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the House is very glad to have this reassurance in the matter, since it is generally appreciated that the Britannia is potentially a superlative aircraft? Bearing in mind, however, that it has cost £18 million of public money already, and there will be a loss to B.O.A.C. of about £2 million this year, does he not feel that the delay has been a source of considerable disappointment?

Mr. Jones

I am glad to hear the hon. Gentleman express his belief that this aircraft has a future. I agree with him. I cannot really accept that there has been any delay. As I said in my answer, the trouble was discovered only in May and everything has been done since to find a solution. I think that we have found it.