§ 8. Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the increasing number of transatlantic flights, what changes are proposed in vertical, lateral, and fore and aft separation standards in order to enable more aircraft to be fitted into available air space; and what methods which will not increase the strain on the traffic control officers are proposed to prevent time gained in flight by the new turbo-jet airliners being lost over the airports through the presence of the slower piston engined aircraft.
§ Mr. WatkinsonA long-range navigational system which should enable us to reduce lateral separation is now being tried. This, coupled with improvements to communication facilities, should also reduce fore and aft separation. No changes in vertical separation are contemplated. Extended use of radar techniques and improved methods of presenting information should enable us to fit extra traffic, including the new jets, into existing airport traffic patterns. I hope that these techniques will simplify the work of the air traffic controller in spite of increased traffic.