§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Aviation to what extent the estimated development costs on the mach 2.2 airlińer will need to be revised as a result of the destruction of the prototype engine; and what the additional charge will be.
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§ Mr. AmeryThe engine recently destroyed during ground tests was an Olympus engine under development for military purposes and not that being developed from it for the Anglo-French civil supersonic transport aircraft. The effect of the accident, if any, on the development costs of the supersonic transport project cannot yet be estimated.
§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Aviation how many of the proposed mach 2.2 airliners would have been required to carry the whole of the passenger traffic which used the normal scheduled services of the International Air Transport Association airlines on North Atlantic routes in the most recent year for which figures are available; and on what average load factor this estimate is based.
§ Mr. AmeryOn the basis of the traffic carried in 1961, and with an average load factor of 60 per cent., it is estimated that about 35 of these aircraft would have been required.
§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Aviation what is the estimated selling price of the proposed mach 2.2 airliner; how much of this price covers repayment of the development costs borne by the British and French Governments; to what extent, in calculating this amount, allowance has been made for interest on the progress payments which will have to be made by the two Governments; what percentage is assumed; and how many aircraft would need to be sold in order to recover the development charges borne by the Government.
§ Mr. AmeryIt is too early to decide what provision should be made for the amortisation of development costs and for this and other reasons an estimate of the selling price is not yet possible.