§ 12. Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Aviation if, in view of new evidence pointing to the risks of wide-cut gasoline, JP4, as an aviation fuel, he will propose to the International Civil Aviation Organisation that the use of this fuel should be banned by international agreement.
§ Mr. MartenThe attention of the International Civil Aviation Organisation has already been drawn to the British report of 1962 on the subject. Studies of more recent evidence are in hand in the United States. When we have the results we shall consider a further approach.
§ Mr. LubbockIs it not now virtually certain that the Pan American 707 which was struck by lightning over Maryland on 8th December crashed as a direct result of using this more dangerous fuel? Has the Parliamentary Secretary noticed the suggestion which has been made by Mr. Rickard that we should allow licences to foreign operators flying into this country only if they are prepared to use the safer fuel? Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that this would be a good thing considering that our air Corporations, which use kerosene, are at an economic disadvantage compared with the foreign operators who use JP4?
§ Mr. MartenThat is a slightly wider question. The accident to which the hon. Member referred, at Elkton in the United States, in December, is under investigation. It is not yet established—here one must be a little cautious—that kerosene would have been any safer in that accident.