§ Mr. Molloyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports he has received concerning failures of the Mediator air traffic control system installed at Heathrow Airport; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NobleThe introduction on 1st February of stage 1 of the Mediator air traffic control system was effected successfully. Some difficulties arising initially have been overcome and further improvements will be made in due course, but there have been no reports of failures of the system as such.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many air-misses have been reported since the start of the Mediator air traffic control system.
§ Mr. NobleSince the introduction of the Mediator A.T.C. system on 1st February, reports have been received of three air-misses involving civil aircraft in the airspace covered by Mediator arrangements. These are being fully investigated under the normal air-miss investigation procedure.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made to him from the British Airline Pilots Association and the Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers regarding the dangers in the first phase 497W of the operations of the Mediator air traffic control system; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NobleThe Department has received representations from the British Air Line Pilots Association about certain aspects of stage 1 of the Mediator system and discussed them with the Association last year. Correspondence with the Association is continuing.
The Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers has also criticised some details of the proposed system and these were discussed at a meeting with representatives of the Guild last December. As a result of this meeting, agreement was reached on several of the points raised, the Department postponed the timing of one function proposed for Mediator, and a better understanding of the Department's intentions was established.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from representatives of the air traffic controllers who are operating the newly-installed sections of the computerised Mediator air traffic control system concerning their fear of mid-air accidents; to what extent air traffic control officers have filed disclaimers of responsibility for air accidents as a result of this new equipment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NobleThe Department has received representations from the Institution of Professional Civil Servants, acting on behalf of air traffic control officers involved in operation of stage 1 of the Mediator system, and has had discussions with representatives of the organisation on the points of concern to them. In consequence of the discussions it has been possible to make some adjustments, and there is better mutual understanding of the respective views. I have no formal knowledge of attempts by officers of the Department to disclaim their official responsibilities.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about the performance of the Linesman/Mediator system of air traffic control at London Airport since 1st February.
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§ Mr. NobleThe introduction of stage I of the Mediator project was effected successfully on 1st February as planned and the new system is working effectively. Some difficulties arising initially have been overcome and further improvements will be made in due course.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reduction in air traffic congestion has taken place at London Airport since the introduction of the Linesman/Mediator system of air traffic control on 1st February.
§ Mr. NobleAt this time of the year congestion only occurs at Heathrow if a runway becomes unserviceable or in bad weather conditions when visibility is inadequate for normal movement rates. These situations are independent of the introduction of the Mediator system.