HC Deb 25 July 1989 vol 157 cc592-3W
Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list in theOfficial Report the numbers of passenger aircraft, in service with United Kingdom operators, which exceed 75 per cent. of their economic design life objectives according to model type and as defined by (a) total number of flights, (b) total number of flying hours and (c) age; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will list in the Official Report the numbers of passenger aircraft in service with United Kingdom operators, by airplane model type, showing how many of each model type have exceeded their economic design life objectives in terms of (a) total number of flights or (b) total number of flying hours or (c) age; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

These data are not held by the Department though some may be available to the Civil Aviation Authority, which has the statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of civil aviation.

I shall ask the chairman of the authority to respond direct to the hon. Member.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many licences for passenger aircraft were issued to United Kingdom operators by his Department under arrangements known as wet leasing; if he will list, according to each model type, the numbers of such aircraft which have(a) exceeded their economical design life objectives in terms of either (i) total number of flights, (ii) total number of flying hours and (iii) age, or (b) reached 75 per cent. or more of their economic design life objectives in terms of either (i) total number of flights, (ii) total number of flying hours and (iii) age; if he is satisfied with the safety standards of aircraft which are wet leased; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

In 1988, the Department approved 19 wet leases of foreign registered passenger aircraft by United Kingdom airlines. A breakdown of the types of aircraft is as follows:-

Type Number
BAC 1–11 (500) 1
B727–100 1
B727–200 4
B737–200 5
B737–300 4
Convair CV-580 3

Type Number
DC10 1
Total 19

The other statistics requested in relation to these aircraft are not kept.