§ Mr. Sternasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask the Civil Aviation Authority to extend the period in which microlight aircraft can be granted certificates of airworthiness beyond 1 July; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. MitchellUnder regulations published in March 1983 a microlight aircraft must have a permit to fly if it is to be operated after 1 July of this year.
The Civil Aviation Authority's intention is that the sport should as far as possible be self-regulating. It has therefore arranged to issue permits to fly to those microlights recommended by the technical officer of the British Microlight Aircraft Association as conforming to the authority's published airworthiness code. I hope shortly to meet the association.
Problems encountered by the BMAA in introducing this procedure have been greater than were anticipated and consequently the CAA has agreed with the association measures which enable microlight owners to continue flying after 1 July under temporary exemptions from the regulations, subject to certain conditions. These concessions are targeted to expire on 1 January 1985.
I agree with the authority's view that in the interests of safety the permit-to-fly requirement should become effective as soon as practicable.