HC Deb 17 June 1996 vol 279 cc334-5W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions, and for what reasons, aircraft operated by(a) Air Operations of Europe and (b) Air Operations of Sweden have been grounded or had their take-off delayed by the Civil Aviation Authority. [32797]

Mr. Norris

None. However, the Swedish civil aviation authority withdrew the certification of airworthiness for one aircraft operated by Air Operations of Europe in May 1995 when severe corrosion was found by engineers during routine maintenance at Heathrow. If the Swedish authorities had not taken prompt action once the fault had been uncovered, the Civil Aviation Authority would have issued a direction to prevent the aircraft from flying. The certificate of Airworthiness was restored by the Swedish authorities when the fault had been rectified.

At the request of the Department, the CAA undertook ramp checks of two further aircraft operated by Air Operations of Europe. These inspections did not delay the take-off of the aircraft concerned.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of inspection reports compiled by the Civil Aviation Authority as a result of inspections undertaken on aircraft operated by Air Operations of Europe and Air Operations of Sweden. [32799]

Mr. Norris

The CAA did not produce reports of the two inspections carried out on aircraft belonging to Air Operations of Europe, which has now ceased trading. However, they provided the Department with advice on the condition of the aircraft. That advice concluded that the aircraft concerned were airworthy. The CAA has not carried out any inspections on aircraft operated by Air Operations of Sweden.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by airport for each of the last five years the number of inspections of aircraft undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority and the number of aircraft that(a) were grounded and (b) had their take-off delayed. [32798]

Mr. Norris

The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.