§ Mr. Usborneasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, whether he is aware that before the war the landing fee at Elmdon Airport for a small aeroplane was is. 6d. and that it is now apparently 17s. 6d.; and if he will explain the reason for this increased charge.
Mr. Ivor ThomasBefore the war Elmdon was a grass-runwayed aerodrome. It was operated by the Birmingham Corporation in accordance with the scale of charges of the Aerodrome Owners' Association. The landing charge was is. 6d. in respect of an aircraft of more than 1,500 lb. but less than 2,500 1b. permissible weight. In the case of commercial aircraft, load and freight fees were also levied. The normal load fees were at the rate of is. 6d. per passenger embarked or disembarked; and, as regards freight at the rate of is. 6d. for each 150 lb. of goods or, at the option of the aerodrome owner, for each four cubic feet of goods loaded or unloaded. The comparable landing charge for an aircraft of similar62W weight at a prewar state-owned aerodrome was 7s. od. Elmdon aerodrome was requisitioned during the war and equipped with hard-runways. Aircraft of 1,800 lb. but less than 2.200 1b. permissible weight are now liable for a landing charge of 17s. 6d. under the revised scale tor State-controlled hard runwayed aerodromes.
As I stated on 24th July in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Glasgow (Colonel J. R. H. Hutchison), the scale of landing charges has been revised in the light of increases in establishment and maintenance costs, especially at aerodromes provided with hard runways. I should add that my noble Friend is prepared to make special arrangements for flying clubs using State-controlled aerodromes.