HC Deb 16 February 1966 vol 724 cc1299-300
13. Mr. Stodart

asked the Minister of Aviation what instructions are given to captains of aircraft with regard to landing at Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, when a wind is blowing across the runway.

Mr. Mulley

B.E.A. imposes no limitations peculiar to Turnhouse airport; nor, as far as I know, does any other operator. Normally the captain has discretion in this regard within the limits appropriate to the aircraft as indicated by the airworthiness authority and by the operator of the aircraft.

Mr. Stodart

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the incident which took place at the end of January in which an aircraft had to make two attempts to get down, with the strain imposed on the pilots because of the cross-wind and the alarm caused to passengers? Is it going to take an accident involving deaths before the Department is prepared to come to an agreement with Edinburgh Corporation to build another runway?

Mr. Mulley

The hon. Gentleman is using rather strong language. I do not accept that the cross-wind problem is a matter of concern from the safety point of view. The position is that B.E.A., for example, lays down a maximum cross-wind component of 25 knots and advises the pilot that he should not land in those conditions unless he has 1,000 ft. available beyond the normal landing run. A lower cross-wind figure is imposed in wet and slippery conditions. I appreciate the problems which a cross-wind causes to these aircraft but I would not say that these were serious considerations.

Mr. Monro

As the existing runway is 90 degrees from the prevailing wind, does the right hon. Gentleman realise that nearly every landing at Turnhouse has an unnecessary additional hazard?

Mr. Mulley

On the figures which I have been able to obtain, only 1 per cent. of actual and planned flights have been diverted or cancelled because of cross-winds. Most of the diversions have been on account of other factors, principally bad visibility.

33. Sir W. Anstruther-Gray

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will speed up the construction of a second runway at Turnhouse, in view of the encouraging figures of traffic expansion.

Mr. Mulley

I do not think that the traffic expansion justifies provision of a new runway at Edinburgh at present, but I will keep the matter under review.

Sir W. Anstruther-Gray

That is a rather disappointing reply. Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that, in spite of previous Answers this afternoon, there is a safety aspect in this matter? Will be give further attention to it before accepting the situation as satisfactory?

Mr. Mulley

A new runway would cost between £2 million and £3 million and I therefore have to be satisfied that the traffic justifies it. Certainly I accept that in the long term a second runway is necessary, and my predecessor has already assured the Corporation that this is so, and when the time comes financial provision will be made towards it.

Mr. William Hamilton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that several years ago the Toothill Committee recommended that air transport facilities between Scotland and the South should be very much improved, but that the previous Administration did absolutely nothing about it? Will my right hon. Friend set the country a better example than they did?

Mr. Mulley

I appreciate that important problems, like those of many of my colleagues, were not made easier by the legacy which we inherited.