§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the President of the Board of Trade what action he will take to integrate air navigation systems over the North London Airport Complex.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsAir navigation systems covering the north of London employ facilities recognised and used internationally, namely very high frequency radio ranges (VORs), distance measuring equipments, and non-directional beacons. These are already integrated. Aircraft fitted with a sufficient scale of Decca equipment may also follow special routes allocated to them in controlled air space and integrated with the general pattern. Air traffic patterns are fully integrated in the controlled air space which extends down to 2,500 feet or less in this area. Problems in the air space below this are under study, and any developments proposed as a result will be discussed with the user-interests concerned.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the President of the Board of Trade when he will require all aircraft using British airports to be fitted with area navigation systems.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsThe United Kingdom has long advocated internationally the recognition and exploitation of facilities for area navigation. It is not practicable to compel aircraft using British airports to be fitted with equipment for this in advance of the necessary agreement on the systems to be used internationally.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of aircraft using London Airport is already fitted with area navigation equipment.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsSome British and foreign aircraft using Heathrow carry self-contained navigational equipment capable of application for an area navigation function. Some others are110W equipped to use the Decca area navigation system, utilising transmissions from ground stations. Owing to the number and variety of aircraft employed on the international routes concerned operated by more than 50 airlines, it is not possible to state what percentage of them is equipped to use these various systems.