HC Deb 20 July 1960 vol 627 c51W
Mr. Rankin

asked the Minister of Aviation, in view of the difficulty of reading the three-pointer altimeter, what replacement he proposes authorising in those aircraft which are equipped with it.

Mr. Sandys

Since 30th September, 1959, Britannia, Comet, Viscount and all other aircraft which operate above 20,000 feet have been required to be fitted with altimeters modified to reduce the possibility of misreading. A Committee was set up in February, 1959, to investigate the design of altimeter faces and mechanisms and it has formulated the requirements for a new instrument. Samples are being produced for evaluation by the Institute of Aviation Medicine, in flight simulators and operational aircraft.