HC Deb 22 October 1969 vol 788 c289W
30. and 31. Mr. A. Royle

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he is aware of severe smoke pollution caused by aircraft to residents living beneath the glide path into London Airport, Heathrow; and what steps he is taking to encourage airlines and British industry to install smokeless engines that will not pollute the air;

(2) if he is aware that seven major United States airlines will fit smokeless engines to new aircraft; and if he will give a general direction to the British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways to take similar action, in view of the severe pollution being caused by aircraft approaching London Airport, Heathrow.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

Experimental investigations indicate that, even at Heathrow Airport itself, atmospheric pollution from jet engines is small compared with that from other sources. The action being taken in the United States relates to the fitting of equipment designed to reduce the smoke emission of an existing American-made engine. This engine is not installed in aircraft operated by either of the two Air Corporations.