§ 36. Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of Aviation to what extent aircraft, not on scheduled flights, and under no ground control, can fly in or through the London Terminal Control area and in the airspace used for holding aircraft awaiting their turn to land; and whether he proposes to subject all aircraft entering these zones to ground control.
§ Mr. AmeryAircraft not under ground control may fly in the London Terminal Area and in the holding area only when they can comply with the visual flight rules. In instrument weather conditions, all aircraft are subject to Air 817 Traffic Control. Since early 1961, all aircraft flying in the airways and in the control zones around Heathrow and Manchester have been required to comply with instrument flight rules in all weather conditions. We are now examining the possibility of extending these rules to the whole of the London Terminal Area.
§ Mr. RankinIs it not a case that at the moment any pilot can fly in the London Terminal Control area in visual flight conditions outside the control zones and notified air space without advising Air Traffic Control of his flight, his future intentions or his whereabouts? Is that not a danger to the great amount of controlled traffic which is in the holding area, or could be in the holding area, at that particular time?
§ Mr. AmeryI am satisfied that there is no unnecessary or unacceptable risk involved in our present system, but this does not mean that we are not always continuing to improve it as traffic increases. At present only a small number of aircraft may be flying above 5,000 feet in the London Terminal Area which are not flying under Air Traffic Control.
§ Mr. RankinDoes the Minister not realise that so long as a great many holding patterns are outside the control zones there is bound to be possible danger to other protected aircraft?
§ Mr. AmeryIf the hon. Member looks at what I have said, I think he will see that under present circumstances there is no unacceptable risk involved.