§ 77. Mr. Liptonasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many privately-owned aircraft have landed at his Department's airfield at Northolt this year; why such landings are permitted for non-official purposes; and why Mr. Sinatra was allowed to land there on 31st July.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesCivil aircraft are allowed the use of R.A.F. airfields where this is compatible with defence needs. Northolt is one of 60 R.A.F. airfields in the United Kingdom which may be so used with the prior permission of the Station Commander. There were 740 take-offs and landings by civil aircraft there between 1st January and 31st July, 1966.
On Tuesday, 26th July, 1966, permission was granted for an HS 125 aircraft belonging to Gregory Air Taxis Ltd. to land at Northolt on Friday, 29th July, 1966. This was subsequently amended to Sunday, 31st July, 1966. When permission was granted it was not known that Mr. Sinatra would be a passenger on the aircraft.
The published regulations for the civil use of Northolt limit the all-up weight of aircraft to 12,500 lb. The HS 125 is over this weight, and I regret therefore that an error was made in giving approval in this case.