§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Minister for Trade what progress has been made in advancing the safety of helicopter operations in the North Sea area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SproatI have recently had constructive discussion on this important subject with the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. John Dent. The CAA will shortly publish a helicopter performance code of practice, and it is its intention to seek the incorporation of weight and performance rules for helicopters into legislation when their Code has been proved and refined in actual operation.
646WI am glad to be able to tell my hon. Friend that the authority will shortly be opening an airworthiness office at Aberdeen, with a resident airworthiness surveyor, and there is to be increased supervision of operators by the Flight Operations Inspectorate. These measures will reinforce the regulatory work of the Authority and their vigilance in relation to aviation safety in the area.