§ Mr. Bessellasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will issue a directive to the British Overseas Airways Corporation to ground any aircraft containing fans made of experimental materials and to refit them with proven components.
§ Mr. Goronwy Roberts:No. I am advised by the Air Registration Board that their approval which is required for the installation of any engine on British Overseas Airways Corporation aircraft takes into account the materials used in fans. Any such material must have completed substantial ground running and have complied with all the relevant airworthiness requirements. In the case of hyfil carbon fibre blades over 17,000 hours of operation have been satisfactorily completed.
§ Mr. Bessellasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the British Overseas Airways Corporation Super VC10 aircraft which lost part of a starboard engine shortly after take-off from London Heathrow Airport on 27th November 1969 was fitted with hyfil-bladed jet fans for the purposes of testing their dependability.
§ Mr. Goronwy Roberts:I am advised that hyfil carbon fibre fan blades were not fitted.
§ Mr. Bessellasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the VC10 aircraft which crashed in Nigeria on 20th November 1969 was fitted with hyfil-bladed fans provided for the purposes of testing their dependability.
§ Mr. Goronwy Roberts:I am advised that hyfil carbon fibre fan blades were not fitted.