HC Deb 29 April 1953 vol 514 cc101-2W
Mr. Edelman

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation what support he has given to the application by Messrs. De Havilland for a provisional United States certificate of airworthiness for the Comet III.

Mr. Albu

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation the latest position in regard to the licensing of the Comet III in the United States.

Mr. Wyatt

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation the nature of the representations made to the United States Government concerning the granting of certificates of airworthiness to the Comet III; and what reply has been received.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Discussions between the Air Registration Board and the United States Civil Aeronautics Administration to review the technical aspects of the Comet HI were begun in January and the progress made was outlined in the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Air Commodore Harvey) on 11th March. In accordance with normal practice a British certificate of airworthiness cannot be granted to the Comet III until it has flown. The Air Registration Board is, however, continuing to examine with the United States authorities the problems regarding airworthiness requirements for turbine-engined aircraft which need to be settled before those authorities are prepared to recognise British certificates of airworthiness and issue American certificates of airworthiness. It is the hope of Her Majesty's Government that these problems will be resolved during the next few months.