HC Deb 15 November 1955 vol 546 cc29-30W
Mr. John MacLeod

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that the helicopter which takes passengers from Waterloo air terminal to London Airport is scheduled to arrive at the airport one-and-a-half hours before the passengers' aeroplane leaves; and what steps he will take to reduce this period.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The services are scheduled to arrive at London Airport at 10.28, 12.28, 13.28 and 15.28 hours. They are not scheduled to connect with particular aircraft. It is for passengers to decide which provides the most convenient connection with the aircraft on which they are flying. Helicopters in their present stage of development are, however, in certain weather conditions and especially in winter liable, for safety reasons, to restrictions on the number of passengers carried or to cancellation of flights at short notice. British European Airways therefore advise passengers in their own interests to arrange helicopter flights at an hour early enough to leave time for travel by coach to London Airport, if the helicopter passage has to be cancelled. This is a matter of commercial operation for them.