§ Mr. Wallaceasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many mandatory occurrence reports were filed by 642W civil helicopter pilots on flights over the North sea in each of the following years: (a) 1981, (b) 1982, (c) 1983, (d) 1984, (e) 1985 and (f) 1986 to 15 November;
(2) what steps have been taken in the last five years to ensure enforcement of the regulations on mandatory occurrence reports in respect of civil fixed-wing and rotary wing aircraft, operating in the north of Scotland and in North sea operations.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe Civil Aviation Authority, which is statutorily responsible for all aspects of aviation safety, has informed me that legislation on the mandatory occurrence reporting scheme is contained in article 85 of the Air Navigation Order 1985. Information and guidance on the scheme is set out in the CAA's "Civil Aviation Publication Number 382," which was last amended in 1984 and is currently subject to review. The authority subjects all holders of an air operator's certificate for the conduct of public transport flights to periodic detailed inspection. An operator's system for the handling and forwarding of mandatory occurrence reports to the authority is one of the aspects to which particular attention is paid. Any shortcomings found, that is failure to report a reportable occurrence, are drawn to the operator's attention. Serious weakness in MOR practices could be one of the factors in suspension or revocation of an air operator's certificate. In the last five years, all the North sea major helicopter operators have been subject to the CAA inspection. During that period the number of MOR reports filed by civil helicopter pilots on flights over the North sea were as follows:
Number 1981 157 1982 202 1983 178 1984 220 1985 193 11986 127 1To date.