HC Deb 31 July 1972 vol 842 c21W
Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Soviet authorities about raising the altitude limits in the air corridors to West Berlin for civil airlines from the present ceiling of 10,000 feet, bearing in mind that that height was set more than 25 years ago when jet airliners were non-existent and that it is a height at which atmospheric turbulence causes discomfort to passengers.

Mr. Kershaw

The quadripartite agreements establishing the air corridors did not impose any height limitation. The Soviet authorities have, however, sought to assert that there is a 10,000 feet ceiling. The Three Powers have never accepted that this is so, but in the interests of air safety Allied aircraft have generally flown below this height. There have been no recent discussions between the Allies and the Soviet authorities.