§ 46. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps 1238 are taken by his Department to ensure that companies granted a licence to carry out aircraft overhaul and maintenance continue to observe the technical standards required.
§ Mr. WatkinsonOrganisations carrying out overhauls, repairs, replacements and modifications of civil aircraft are approved for these purposes on behalf of my Department by the Air Registration Board who regularly supervise them to ensure that proper technical standards are maintained.
Operators' maintenance organisations are not at present required to be so approved, but approval by the Board of the maintenance schedules for each type of aircraft is required. Compliance with these schedules must be certified by appropriately licensed aircraft maintenance engineers.
§ Mr. BeswickIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the impression created in the country now is that, while he is very quick off the mark to challenge the right of a pilot to hold a licence, he seems reluctant to take action in certain cases affecting companies charged with the responsibility for maintenance? In the light of recent incidents and criticism that has been made in public, can he say whether the inspection either by or on behalf of the A.R.B. into the maintenance schedules is carried out at sufficiently regular intervals?
§ Mr. WatkinsonIf the hon. Gentleman is referring to a case which has recently been in the public notice, I certainly am not prepared to comment on it until I have received a report of the inquiry. As to the general issue which the hon. Gentleman has raised, I do not think that is so at all. My judgment is that, in general, these inspections of the approved firms and the general review of the schedules is carried out very strictly by the A.R.B.