Mr. R. Duckworthasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of passenger-carrying aeroplanes equipped with wireless communication; and what objection there is to making such equipment compulsory in all these cases?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadThe number of British registered civil passenger-carrying aircraft equipped with wireless transmitting or receiving apparatus is 159. Under existing regulations all aircraft capable of carrying 10 or more persons including the crew are required to be so equipped. The objection to an extension of the requirement to all passenger carrying aeroplanes is that in present circumstances it would increase the existing congestion of wireless traffic within the United Kingdom. Consideration is, however, being given to a revision of the56W Regulations to embrace all civil aircraft of 4,000 lbs. gross weight and above, and operating companies are being consulted in regard to this proposal.