HL Deb 11 February 1970 vol 307 cc874-6
THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are fully satisfied that all proper safety precautions have been carried out on the coming into service of the jumbo-jet.]

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, it is never advisable to declare oneself fully satisfied, especially when the subject is aviation safety. This new aircraft type poses certain special problems, but I believe that all reasonable precautions have been taken.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask whether he can say what studies the Air Registration Board have so far made on the problem of the turbulent wake of this aircraft as regards other aircraft flying behind or below and buildings on the ground close to the airport?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I am not sure that it is as yet the responsibility of the A.R.B. in this country to study that aspect of the problem. My information is that the F.A.A. in the United States have had no reports at all of any undue consequences of structural vortex on the ground. In the air, however, there is a problem of turbulence in the wake of these large aircraft. As a consequence it has been decided to require air space to be cleared 10 nautical miles behind the large aircraft, and separation of 2,000 feet above and below.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, could the noble Lord say whether any extra emergency services are planned at Heathrow during the coming summer, during the build-up of the jumbo-jets coming into service, particularly of the fire fighting services and the ambulance services?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords an emergency with an aircraft carrying possibly 380 or more people is an un-pleasant prospect to consider, but emergency services are now available at Heathrow and further talks are taking place between the airport authorities and the local authorities about special precautions in this case.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, is it not the case that the licensing requirements for airfields, with which presumably Heathrow complies, make provision for aircraft up to a certain maximum size, and that maximum size is far less than that of the Jumbos now in operation? Can the noble Lord, say, therefore, that he is satisfied on the point raised by my noble friend Lord Kinnoull, because it is important that all these people can be treated properly if an accident occurs, which of course we hope will not happen.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, of course it is important, and, as I have said, of course there are emergency services avail- able at Heathrow; this is a common requirement. There has recently been a special working party on this subject and it is hoped that the services will be improved.

LORD LEATHER LAND

My Lords, in view of the size and manœuvrability of these large aircraft, does not my noble friend think that the next London Airport should be built on the coast and not inland?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, this actually is quite a serious problem. Although it would be difficult to muster a sufficient number of ambulances should one of these large aircraft come down on the ground, the problem would be increased considerably if it came down in the sea.