§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what work has been sponsored by his Department into the dangers of bird strike to
694Windustries in the United States of America, Japan and each EEC country.
§ Sir G. HoweThe information available for the United Kingdom is given in the table below. Comparable data is not available for other countries.
and if he will give comparable data from international sources regarding the same industries in the United States of America, Japan and each European Economic Community country.
§ Sir G. HoweThe information available for the United Kingdom is given in the table below. Comparable data are not available for other countries.
aircraft; and what are the major remedial measures being promoted by his Department to reduce the risk of bird strikes to aircraft in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. OnslowIn addition to work sponsored by my right hon. Friend the 695W Secretary of State for Defence and by the Civil Aviation Authority, my Department is sponsoring research on improving the resistance of aircraft to bird strikes. This research is a continuation of programmes which have been in progress for about eight years. It is also sponsoring an ornithological survey of the Maplin area. The promotion of remedial measures to reduce the risk of bird strikes is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority.
§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list the number of bird strikes suffered by British civil aircraft of more than 12,000 lb. in 1972, according to the type of bird involved;
(2) if he will publish a list of the number of bird strikes on British civil aircraft of more than 12,000 lb., the number of movements of British civil aircraft worldwide and the number of bird strikes per 10,000 movements in 1972.
§ Mr. OnslowMy hon. Friend should seek this information from the Civil Aviation Authority.
§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies have been carried out by his Department into the problem of bird strikes at Maplin; and what conclusions emerge as to the degree of risk from bird strike to aircraft using an airport in this area.
§ Mr. OnslowMy Department has sponsored a study into this problem which is now in progress and will continue up to and beyond the airport's opening date. It is too early to reach any firm conclusions, but the experts involved are confident that the bird strike hazard at Maplin can be reduced to minimal proportions.