§ Lord Balfour of Inchryeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether full implementation of the six safety recommendations of the official inquiry into the Land's End-Scilly Isles helicopter crash of July 1983 has now taken place and what progress has been made with the further recommendation concerning pilots' life jackets and personal location beacons referred to in House of Lords proceedings on 9th December 1985 (Col 1).
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy department has arranged with MoD to equip 18 RN Sea King helicopters used for SAR, with VHF homing equipment capable of operation on the Civil Aeronatuical Distress Frequency 121.5 MHz. They are already equipped to home on 243.0 MHz. Secondly, 111WA with effect from 1st October 86 all helicopters operating over water are required to be equipped with an automatically deployable location beacon (ELBs) which transmits on the dual frequencies (121.5 and 243 MHz).
An improved life jacket has been developed which will be suitable for wear at all times. The whole question of continuous wearing of both life jackets and immersion suits is the subject of a study currently being undertaken by the CAA, in conjunction with the Institute of Aviation Medicine, and the results are likely to be known towards the end of 1986.
Further technical study is now required into continuing to equip crew life jackets with dual or single frequency personal locator beacons (PLBs) in addition to the new dual frequency ELBs, as there is considered to be a risk of mutual radio interference between the PLBs and ELBs.