§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of the successful experience of British Airways in modifying the leading edge flaps of their Boeing 747 Jumbo-jets, he will make representations to improve the implementation of IATA Information Exchange advice; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisThe Civil Aviation Authority, which is responsible for aviation safety matters in this country, tells me that immediately after an incident in August 1972 British Airways reported to the authority and to the manufacturer, Boeing, that difficulties had been experienced with the leading edge flaps on a Boeing 747 aircraft. This is normal practice when a problem of this kind is encountered. In the interests of aviation safety the manufacturer in turn normally informs all operators of the aircraft type concerned of any major problem that has been encountered.
The Civil Aviation Authority informed both the Federal Aviation Administration, the United States authority concerned, and Boeing that it was the authority's considered opinion that modifications were required. In the result British Airways introduced for all their 261W Boeing 747s modifications designed for them by Boeing to safeguard against a recurrence of the incident. These modifications were approved by the FAA and were required by the Civil Aviation Authority to be incorporated in all United Kingdom-registered Boeing 747 aircraft.
The exchange of safety information within IATA, an association of airlines, is a matter for which Her Majesty's Government have no responsibility. However, I understand that British Airways informed the European section of the IATA safety exchange group of the incident in August 1972 and the subsequent modifications and that these matters were discussed at meetings of the section.