§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he is satisfied with the implementation of the code of airworthiness prepared by the Civil Aviation Authority for microlight aircraft; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what inspection procedures have been instituted to ensure that the code of airworthiness for microlight aircraft is implemented;
(3) if he considers that a sufficient period has been allowed for the implementation of the code of airworthiness for microlight aircraft; and if he will make a statement;
(4) what manufacturing and design specifications have been approved in respect of the code of airworthiness for microlight aircraft;
(5) how many permits to fly microlight aircraft have been issued by the Civil Aviation Authority following the implementation of their code of airworthiness.
§ Mr. David MitchellAviation safety matters, including the airworthiness of microlight aircraft, are the statutory responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority.
Its decision announced in 1982 to introduce regulatory measures for microlight activity was followed in March 1983 by measures which included a time scale phased up to 1 July 1984 for compliance with the authority's published airworthiness code and for securing the associated permit to fly as a condition of continued operation beyond that date.
An arrangement was made by the authority in consultation with the sport's representative body, the British Microlight Aircraft Association, under which the association was to be approved as an organisation technically qualified to recommend to the authority the granting of a Permit to Fly in individual cases. This was a major step towards self-regulation of the sport within the requirements of the law which has been successful with other aviation sporting activities and is one which I wish to encourage.
Unfortunately the association and the manufacturers of microlight have not been able to marshal their technical resources as quickly or on the scale they had anticipated in time to meet the announced deadline of 1 July, and the authority has had to improvise arrangements which would allow microlights to continue operating beyond 1 July under an exemption from the requirement to have a valid permit to fly. Such exemptions are targeted to expire on 1 January 1985.
Meanwhile, in response to applications the authority has granted two microlight aircraft type approvals, four 490W individual permits to fly, and has given its approval to the organisations of two manufacturers of microlight aircraft. More manufacturers will be approved in the near future.
The postponement of the date for compliance with the authority's airworthiness requirements is regrettable, but it is expected that the BMAA's arrangements will become effective very soon and the process of assessing microlights for the granting of permits to fly will he speeded up.