§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those airlines which have been subject to ramp checks by the Civil Aviation Authority while at a United Kingdom airport during the last 12 months, indicating those irregularities found.[31188]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) checks aircraft operated by all UK airlines regularly as part of their continuing safety oversight duties. The responsibility for the safety oversight of foreign airlines and foreign-registered aircraft rests with the relevant national aviation authorities. Where evidence suggests that foreign-registered aircraft may not be operated fully in accordance with all ICAO safety standards and recommended practices, the Department instructs the CAA to inspect aircraft from the airline or country concerned.
In the last 12 months, 56 ramp-checks have been carried out on aircraft operated by the following foreign airlines:
- ADC
- Aeroflot
- African International Airlines
- Air Atlanta
- Air India
- Air Malta
- Air Mauritius
- Air Memphis
- Air Moldova
326 - Air Namibia
- Air Sofia
- Alliance
- All Nippon Airways
- American Airlines
- Avianca
- Avistar
- Azerbaijan Airways
- Balkan Bulgarian
- Belavia
- Biman
- CSA
- DAS
- Espace Aviation Services
- Ethiopean Airlines
- Gauruda Indonesia
- Gulf Air
- Hanger 5 Airservices Norway
- Inter Trans Air
- Iran Air
- Islandsflug
- Kenya Airways
- Kibris Turkis Airlines
- Kuwait Airways
- Laker Airways
- Merchant Express
- Middle East Airlines
- MK Airlines
- Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise
- Riga Airways
- Royal Jordanian Airlines
- Sunways
- Tarom
- Transarabia Air Transport
- Transmediterranean Airways
- Tunis Air
- Turkish Airlines
- United Airlines.
Ramp checks on foreign aircraft provide a limited snap-shot of the aircraft's condition or the airline's operation. Although they often identify a number of minor irregularities, these can generally be dealt with immediately or through normal maintenance procedures. Any irregularities found in ramp checks are drawn to the attention of the foreign aviation authority concerned. Where more serious problems are identified, aircraft are detained until the problems are solved, and, if necessary, permits for further flights by the airline are refused. The results of these checks were generally satisfactory and very few serious problems identified.