HL Deb 24 July 1986 vol 479 cc378-9

3.11 p.m.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

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

The Question was as follows: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Boeing 747 aircraft on the British register have now been examined for cracks in the frame in the forward sections; in how many of these cases cracks have been found; what was the average age of the aircraft in which cracks were found; and whether any and if so how many of these aircraft remain to be checked.

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the Civil Aviation Authority have informed us that since the initial inspections of localised areas of the nose fuselage structure were completed in March this year, three Boeing 747 aircraft on the British register have now been more extensively inspected in the continuing programme for aircraft which have accumulated over 8,000 flights. Cracks have been found in all three aircraft. But the nature and severity is less than previously found, being well within the structural capability of the aircraft. Each aircraft has completed over 13,000 flights, 18 aircraft remain to be inspected and each inspection will take 2 to 3 weeks to complete.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that interesting and helpful reply. Can he say whether, in the light of these cracks, both the airlines and the government agencies concerned are reviewing the expected working life of these aircraft?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the cracks are well within the structural capability of the aircraft and this is something for the aircraft operators themselves to determine. It depends on the pressure cycles—that is, the number of times the aircraft has to take off and land—and therefore the cracks will vary. Obviously there will come a time when, because of the continuing maintenance programme, it will be cheaper to renew the aircraft than to maintain it.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, does the noble Lord appreciate that the question that has just been put by the noble Lord, Lord Boyd-Carpenter, is very important? Are the Government, the department and the CAA satisfied with the present procedure in regard to the programme of inspection of airplanes generally? Or does the noble Lord consider that there should be some review given to the regular inspections? These cracks have come to light as a result of a number of recent incidents, and if they had not come to light we might have had very severe difficulties.

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the incidents that I have reported today have come to light as a result of a continuing programme of vetting of aircraft which is done on a regular and increasing basis. The cracks are very minor and well within the structural capability of the aircraft, and, I believe that the Government and the CAA who are responsible for this matter are taking it seriously.

Lord Nugent of Guildford

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that with only three inspections completed and 18 still to be carried out, progress seems to be rather slow? Is there any prospect of speeding it up?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, of course the aircraft have to come back to this country in order to be inspected for British Airways; but this is a second series of inspections. The aircraft have been inspected once—before the end of March—and the inspection that is being carried out this time is a continuing, on-going and slightly more extensive one.

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, does that reply mean that the cracks that are found now were not apparent when the aircraft were looked at previously, and is it safe to travel in aircraft with cracks?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I am advised that it is safer to travel in aircraft with cracks of this nature than in aircraft with no cracks at all, as this probably means that there will be greater stress elsewhere.

Lord Mishcon

My Lords, is that not rather a cracked answer?