§ 33. Mr. Croninasked the Minister of Aviation what consideration he has given to improving the standards of maps and charts and the availability of information for the estimation of safety heights.
§ Mr. MartenIf properly interpreted, and the appropriate safety clearances allowed, the topographical maps and instrument approach charts published by the Ministry of Aviation provide safe guidance in avoiding high ground. Other non-topographical maps and charts, including those not published by the Ministry, are not considered suitable for determination of minimum safety height and I am considering drawing the attention of pilots to this.
§ Mr. CroninIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is widespread dissatisfaction among airline pilots about the quality of these Ministry of Aviation maps? In view of the loss of life that has occurred in recent years through aircraft hitting high ground, is this not a matter of urgency which needs to be reconsidered?
§ Mr. MartenThe standards of the maps and charts published by the Ministry accord with those of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, but, as the hon. Member probably realises, this matter will be discussed informally later this month with representatives of airline and other pilots, together with representatives of the Air Ministry, and decisions will be taken thereafter about the need for publicity on these points.
§ Mr. BurdenWould my right hon. Friend not agree that, whereas it is obviously essential that all proper safeguards should be taken, it would be quite wrong to imply that many of the crashes which have taken place and which have concerned foreign airlines have occurred because the pilots of those airlines were using British maps?
§ Mr. MartenYes, it would be quite wrong.