§ 26. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what recent consultations he has had with the airline operators about the use of F.I.D.O. at London airport; and how far their views have been sought about the economic advantage of using this landing aid at the present estimated costs.
§ Mr. HayI have recently received a fresh statement on the need for F.I.D.O. at London Airport from the Airlines' Chairmen's Committee and I hope to have discussions with the airlines shortly. These will, of course, include the possible economic advantages and also the heavy costs of installing and operating a modern system.
§ Mr. BeswickDoes not the Joint Parliamentary Secretary agree that we are progressing very slowly? I remind him that in 1950 his colleagues were demanding that we should have F.I.D.O. at London Airport in the winter of that year. After having had time to reflect on the supplementary question I put to him two months ago, does not the hon. Gentleman think it worth while considering the figure of £150 a landing which it is now calculated it would cost to land with F.I.D.O.?
§ Mr. HayWe are certainly well aware of the importance of getting on with this if we can, but we are up against the problem that the trials of the new F.I.D.O. installation have not been progressing as successfully as we had hoped. Until we have a successful result from those trials we cannot work out any figures. As soon as we can work out figures and discuss them sensibly with airline operators, we will do so.