§ 3.15 p.m.
§ Lord Whaddon asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether they have any plans to amend the regulations governing air navigation currently in force.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)My Lords, the regulations governing air navigation are reviewed from time to time. The last review resulted in the Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 1990 the provisions of which began to come into force on 1st December. The amendments are matters of technical and legal detail and do not include any changes of policy except that private aircraft must now comply with regulations governing taking off and landing in had weather.
§ Lord WhaddonMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. Is he aware that pilots are encouraged to make trial approaches and overshoots at airfields from time to time in the interests of flight safety and for the maintenance of skills? Is he further aware that the regulations provide for such specific trial manoeuvres at licensed airfields, but that no such permission is evident in the rules covering unlicensed airfields which are the vast majority? Does the Minister not agree that the interests of flight safety demand that such permission should be allowed at all airfields both licensed and unlicensed? Will he seek to amend the regulations accordingly?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, the safety of air navigation is the statutory responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority. I shall obtain the views of the chairman of that body and write to the noble Lord on the substance of his question. The regulations to which the noble Lord referred do not specifically prohibit practice at approaches to unlicensed aerodromes but specifically permit practice approaches at licensed aerodromes.
§ Lord Boyd-CarpenterMy Lords, can my noble friend confirm that these regulations have the approval of the Civil Aviation Authority?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, yes, that is correct.