HC Deb 23 January 2003 vol 398 cc505-6W
Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many(a) incidents of dumping of aviation fuel there were and (b) tonnes of aviation fuel were dumped in UK airspace in the last year for which figures are available; [92264]

(2) what regulations and guidelines there are on the amount of aviation fuel loaded onto aircraft at (a) UK airports and (b) military bases; and how this relates to the planned journey and flight time; [92261]

(3) what regulations exist to control the dumping of aviation fuel into UK airspace; and whether the regulations differ for civil and military aircraft; [92262]

(4) whether a pilot dumping aviation fuel is required to report the activity; and what records are maintained of incidents of the dumping of aviation fuel; [92263]

(5) what offence the dumping of aircraft fuel into UK airspace constitutes. [92266]

Mr. Jamieson

Article 56(3)(b) of the Civil Aviation Air Navigation Order 2000 permits the jettisoning, in cases of emergency, of fuel from an aircraft over the UK. Other than in an emergency, jettisoning would constitute an offence liable on summary conviction to a fine of up to £2,500, as provided for in Article 122(5).

As in any emergency, the pilot and the air traffic controller would normally report the circumstances under the Mandatory Occurrence Reporting Scheme. There were 19 such incidents in the UK in 2002. There were 1,666,000 air transport movements in the UK in 2001. Details of the amount of fuel jettisoned are not normally recorded as part of the Scheme, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

As regards fuel loaded onto an aircraft, Article 6 of the Order referred to effectively requires the operator to ensure that the pre-flight calculation of usable fuel for a flight covers taxying, trip (take-off to landing), contingency (normally 5 per cent. of trip fuel), diversion to alternative destination, final reserve fuel (30 minutes holding), additional fuel if required by the type of operation (e.g. extended range twin engined operation) and any extra at the commander's discretion.

Questions about the regulations and procedures applicable to military aircraft are a matter for my right. hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence.