§ Mr. Bessellasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Air Registration Board permits aircraft operating under licences issued by it to be diverted to take part in air shows while on scheduled flights with passengers and a full crew aboard.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe Air Registration Board is my right hon. Friend's adviser on matters affecting the airworthiness of aircraft only. Air service licences, which the hon. Member appears to have in mind, are issued by the Air Transport Licensing Board. The conditions which may be imposed in such licences are set out in the Civil Aviation (Licensing) Regulations, 1964 (as amended) and do not refer to how a flight should be conducted on the route between the places named in the licence.
§ Mr. Bessellasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute an inquiry into the episode on 12th July, 1969, when a scheduled British European Airways Trident flight, with a full complement of passengers from Zurich, was diverted to take part in an air show.
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§ Mr. William RodgersB.E.A. has told me that it is no part of its policy to allow its aircraft whilst on scheduled service to take part in air displays of any kind. On this occasion, because of mistaken enthusiasm on the part of one of its staff, it was arranged that the Trident operating the Zurich to London service should fly over Booker airfield en route to Heathrow. There is no evidence that the safety of the aircraft was in any way prejudiced or that the passengers were placed at risk, and no further inquiry seems necessary. However, I have been assured by B.E.A. that all necessary steps have been taken to prevent any similar incident in future.