HC Deb 18 December 1996 vol 287 c659W
Mr. Ashdown

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many holders of (i) a United Kingdom private pilot's licence for(a) helicopters PPL (h) and (b) fixed-wing aeroplanes, (ii) an airline transport licence and (iii) a commercial pilot's licence for (A) helicopters and (B) gyroplanes have been prosecuted for exceeding the privileges of their licence since 24 July 1990; [8833]

(2) how many alleged incidents of holders of (i) a private pilot's licence for (a) helicopters and (b) aeroplanes (ii) an airline transport licence and (iii) a commercial pilot's licence for (A) helicopters and (B) gyroplanes, exceeding the privileges of their licence have been investigated by investigating officers of the air safety enforcement section of the legal branch of the UK CAA since 24 July 1990. [8834]

Mr. Bowis

Records of prosecutions of pilots for exceeding the privileges of their licences do not specify what licences and/or ratings were held at the time, although they do distinguish between fixed-wing and helicopter incidents.

Since 1 January 1991, there have been 22 successful prosecutions of pilots for exceeding the privileges of their licences, 16 involving pilots of fixed-wing aircraft and six involving helicopter pilots. All earlier records have been archived and the information from these could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Records relating to investigations which do not lead to prosecutions are not retained.

Mr. Ashdown

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many holders of a UK private pilot's licence and a UK private pilot's licence (helicopter) have been convicted for conducting public transport operations. [8835]

Mr. Bowis

Since 1 January 1991, there have been 18 successful prosecutions for illegal public transport operations, 12 involving fixed-wing aircraft and six involving helicopters. The records do no show the category of licence held by the pilots.