§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide Air Information Service Aerodrome Units, organised and staffed to the standards laid down in International Civil Aviation Organisation Annex 15 and International Civil Aviation Organisation Document 8126 AN872/2 A.I.S. Manual, at the remaining 32 of the 37 international airports designated under Article 10 of the Convention and listed in International Civil Aviation Organisation Document 7383 AIS/503/26.
§ Mr. NobleNo. It would not be appropriate to provide Air Information Service Units up to these standards at every airport designated under Article 10 as available for the entry or departure of international air traffic.
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what training facilities, including language training, exist for Air Information Service staff, and how many of the existing Air Information Service staff at the United Kingdom International Notam Office and the five Air Information Service aerodrome units are technically qualified and trained to the requirements of Chapter 2 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation Document 8126 AN/872/2, and the Recommendations 6/4 and 6/5 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation Air Information Service and Charts Divisional Meeting of 1966.
§ Mr. NobleThe I.C.A.O. documents referred to are not I.C.A.O. Standards but a blend of information and advice. We have no reason to believe that the training or standards of A.I.S. staff in the United Kingdom falls short of general international practice. Air Information Service staff are for the most part trained on the job. Central facilities are available for them to learn conventional French, and they are also instructed in a specialised aviation French while serving at A.I.S. headquarters. Of the 52 briefing staff at the headquarters and the five manned aerodrome units, 30 are technically qualified and trained, 11 are trained but lack aircrew experience, and112W 11 are relatively new entrants nearing the end of their training.
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will revise the present non-standard United Kingdom Air Information Publication, Air Pilot, and publish and amend this document to the layout and standards, inclusive of the required aerodrome and other charts specified in International Civil Aviation Organisation Annex 15 and International Civil Aviation Organisation Document 8126.
§ Mr. NobleThe United Kingdom Aeronautical Information Publication "Air Pilot" is constantly being amended and revised, and opportunity is taken as far as is practicable to conform progressively with the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Given the large size of the "Air Pilot", this is an extensive task and is bound to take a certain amount of time.