HC Deb 05 March 1969 vol 779 cc104-6W
Mr. Brian Parkyn

asked the Minister of Technology what was the number of blind landings made during 1968 at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Bedford.

Mr. Fowler

583.

Mr. Brian Parkyn

asked the Minister of Technology what is the average daily consumption of electrical power at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Bedford.

Mr. Fowler

189,000 kilowatt hours.

Mr. Brian Parkyn

asked the Minister of Technology what is the total number of staff at present employed at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Bedford.

Mr. Fowler

1,479, excluding M.P.B.W. and Met. Office staff. The number given in answer to my hon. Friend's similar Question on 20th January, 1967, also excluded M.P.B.W. and Met. Office staff.—[Vol. 736, c.137.]

Mr. Brian Parkyn

asked the Minister of Technology what were the total number of flights of all types to and from the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Bedford, during 1968.

Mr. Fowler

7,627 landings and 7,631 take-offs. There were also 3,734 overshoots forming part of the Establishment's experimental flying activities.

Mr. Brian Parkyn

asked the Minister of Technology what is the total area of land under his control at the Naval Air Establishment at Bedford.

Mr. Fowler

The Naval Air Department is a part of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Bedford, and many of the facilities are common to the whole Establishment. An area of about 285 acres is at present used mainly by the Naval Air Department.

Mr. Brian Parkyn

asked the Minister of Technology how many days of fog

Occurrences of visibility below 220 yards
1964 1965 1966 1967 1968
0001 hours … … … … — — 5 (211) 4 (251) 4 (235)
0300 hours … … … … — — 8 (211) 12 (251) 12 (235)
0600 hours … … … … 17 (254) 19 (254) 12 (234) 10 (251) 16 (236)
0900 hours … … … … 7 (259) 10 (254) 7 (255) 4 (258) 8 (240)
1200 hours … … … … 6 (256) 2 (253) 1 (253) 1 (257) 1 (219)
1500 hours … … … … 5 (255) 2 (253) 2 (253) 1 (252) 2 (216)
Occurrences of visibility below 440 yards
1964 1965 1966 1967 1968
0001 hours … … … … — — 9 (211) 4 (251) 7 (235)
0300 hours … … … … — — 11 (211) 13 (251) 16 (235)
0600 hours … … … … 20 (254) 27 (254) 16 (234) 11 (251) 22 (236)
0900 hours … … … … 15 (259) 12 (254) 10 (255) 7 (258) 13 (240)
1200 hours … … … … 6 (256) 5 (253) 2 (253) 1 (257) 3 (219)
1500 hours … … … … 5 (255) 3 (253) 2 (253) 1 (252) 3 (216)
Occurrences of visibility below 1,100 yards
1964 1965 1966 1967 1968
0001 hours … … … … — — 12 (211) 6 (251) 13 (235)
0300 hours … … … … — — 20 (211) 18 (251) 21 (235)
0600 hours … … … … 37 (254) 39 (354) 23 (234) 20 (251) 33 (236)
0900 hours … … … … 25 (259) 17 (254) 15 (255) 11 (258) 22 (240)
1200 hours … … … … 7 (256) 4 (253) 7 (253) 1 (257) 10 (219)
1500 hours … … … … 6 (255) 6 (253) 4 (253) 3 (252) 5 (216)

The effect of fog on the operation of civil airlines can only be assessed against the Companies' operating limits and the aircraft equipment.

A comparison between R.A.E., Bedford, and London Airport, Heathrow, for the period 1959–67, based on observations at 0600, 0900, 1200 and 1500 hours, is given below.

Percentage frequency of visibility below
220 yards 440 yards 1,100 yards
Bedford … 2.7 3.9 6.1
Heathrow … 1.4 2.0 3.8

Mr. Brian Parkyn

asked the Minister of Technology how much of the land sufficient to hamper normal civil airline flights were recorded at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Bedford, during each of the past five years; and how this compares with the record for London Airport, Heathrow.

Mr. Fowler

The following tables show the number of occasions on which visibility at Bedford has been below the limits of 200 yards, 440 yards and 1,100 yards at stated times of day during each of the last five years. The observations exclude weekends. The readings at 0001 hours and 0300 hours commenced in February, 1966. The figures in brackets indicate the relevant number of observations.

within the perimeter fence surrounding the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Bedford, is put to agricultural use.

Mr. Fowler

Forty-eight acres. In addition, grass mowings from the airfield area are used for cattle fodder.

Mr. Brian Parkyn

asked the Minister of Technology what is the total area of land under his control at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Bedford.

Mr. Fowler

Two thousand two hundred acres (including over 800 acres let for agricultural purposes, mainly outside the perimeter fence).