Mr. Robert HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the regulations governing foreign ownership of British passenger fixed-wing airlines apply to British passenger helicopter companies.
§ Mr. McLoughlinI have been asked to reply.
There are no such regulations. However, under section 65(3) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, if the Civil Aviation Authority is not satisfied that an applicant for an air transport licence is either a United Kingdom national or a body specified in section 65(3), it must refuse to grant a licence unless the Secretary of State for Transport gives his consent. Similarly, under section 66(3) of the Act, if the CAA has reason to believe that the holder of a licence is no longer either a United Kingdom national or a body specified in section 65(3), it has a duty to inform the Secretary of State accordingly and, if he so directs, revoke the licence. Sections 65(3) and 66(3) of the 1982 Act apply both to passenger fixed-wing aircraft and to passenger helicopter companies.