§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied that the methods used by the Civil Aviation Authority in testing aircraft safety, with respect to emergency exits is adequate; and whether it includes live tests with representative passenger samples.
§ Mr. RidleyYes. The CAA requires, before it grants a certificate of airworthiness for aircraft capable of carrying more than 44 passengers, to be satisfied by a practice test that it can be evacuated in conditions simulating a real emergency and in the time the authority specifies. The authority requires that the "passengers" taking part in these tests shall not have prior knowledge of the situation. Detailed data are recorded, to enable the authority to judge the effect of changes in the seating arrangements which airlines may wish to make after initial certification.