HC Deb 02 December 1969 vol 792 cc277-8W
Mr. Leslie Huckfield

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what further proposals he has for the encouragement of the use of autoland systems by aircraft using British airports;

(2) what proposals he has for the category upgrading of United Kingdom airports; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

In addition to Category II instrument landing system (I.L.S.) equipment already installed at Heathrow (10R and 28L), Gatwick (09), Liverpool (28), Manchester (24), Birmingham (33) and Prestwick (13) further such installations are being made at Heathrow (28R and 10L), Gatwick (27), Manchester (06) and Glasgow (06 and 24). Consideration is also being given to the needs of Belfast and Edinburgh. The complementary lighting requirements are the responsibility of airport authorities and have so far been completed at Heathrow (10R) and Liverpool (28).

Preliminary planning for the upgrading of some of these installations to Category III is in hand. However completion of the extensive research and development work centred on Royal Aircraft Establishment, in particular the Blind Landing Experimental Unit, and international standardisation are required before plans can be finalised and implementation action taken.