16. Mr. Fave11asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he last discussed with the Civil Aviation Authority the structural safety of civil aircraft.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe structural safety of civil aircraft is the statutory responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority, which is advised by the Airworthiness Requirements Board. The authority keeps me informed of significant safety issues.
§ 23. Mr. David Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Transport when the Civil Aviation Authority expects that the additional inspections specified in the answer of 7 February, Official Report, column 272 relating to cracks in jumbo jets will be completed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe civil Aviation Authority has informed me that the initial inspection of the aircraft skin showed that no United Kingdom registered aircraft were cracked. Subsequently, as a result of additional inspections, cracks requiring repair have been found in the internal structure of 10 United Kingdom aircraft.
The CAA expects that as further aircraft are subjected to these inspections more may be found requiring repair, but the evidence does not warrant a general withdrawal of the type from service because the cracking is within the structural capability of the aircraft. The CAA has agreed a programme of inspection and repair where necessary. Each aeroplane takes three to four days for this work to be carried out and it is currently anticipated that all aircraft should be completed by mid-March.
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§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the chairmen of British Airways and the Civil Aviation Authority on the work carried out or to be carried out on cracks discovered in some Boeing 747s.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe Civil Aviation Authority is in close contact with British Airways and has kept me informed about the cracks discovered in some Boeing 747 aircraft. The CAA has agreed with British Airways a programme of inspection and repair where necessary. Each aircraft takes about three to four days for this work to be carried out and all affected aircraft should be completed by the end of March.
A longer-term programme for inspecting a wider area may be instituted and may involve considerably more time on the ground to carry out. This long-term inspection has not yet been finalised and the FAA has not yet issued a further airworthiness directive.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the accident investigation branch of his Department is co-ordinating information on Boeing 747s with the Civil Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerInspectors of the accidents investigation branch participated in an investigation, conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board, USA, into an accident to a British Airways Boeing 747 which occurred during the approach to Boston, Massachusetts on 15 December 1985. On this approach sections of the left inboard trailing edge fore flap fell from the aircraft. The findings of the investigation were passed to the Civil Aviation Authority along with the results of the inspections of some other British Airways Boeing 747 flaps, carried out as a result of this accident.
The only other recent involvement of the accidents investigation branch with Boeing 747 aircraft was the analysis of the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder outputs from the Air India aircraft which crashed in the Irish sea on 23 June 1985. This work was in response to a request from the Indian authorities.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has received from the aviation safety centre on the possible structural defects of some Boeing 747s.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerNone.