§ 82. Mr. Dribergasked the President of the Board of Trade what tests of the airworthiness of Comet aircraft have been undertaken recently; and what is the average age of these aircraft still in service.
§ Mr. CorfieldAll British public transport aircraft have a system of continuous maintenance, carried out under the supervision of the Air Registration Board, in which the airframe, engines, components and systems are subjected to tests, including flight tests, inspections and appropriate calibrations in accordance with detailed approved schedules. Special inspections or tests may be required from time to time. A special inspection of the pitot static pipe system is presently being carried out on Comets. The average age of the Comets on the United Kingdom register still in service is 11 years.