§ Mr. WilkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the airworthiness directives the Civil Aviation Authority has issued to British airlines relating to BAe 146 aircraft in their service about(a) engine icing and (b) the ingestion of fumes from the engines into the cabin. [125988]
§ Mr. MullinAs a result of in service experience of engine icing on the BAe 146, the Civil Aviation Authority has issued a total of five Airworthiness Directives, two of which have been superseded. These Airworthiness Directives impose operating limitations and placarding requirements. In addition, the CAA has accepted as mandatory three Airworthiness Directives (two of which have been superseded) issued by US Federal Aviation Administration in relation to the Allied Signal ALF 502 engine used on the BAe 146. The CAA is entirely satisfied that all the necessary precautions have been taken to ensure that the aircraft meets both UK and international airworthiness standards. The current limitation published for aircraft have shown themselves to be both effective and practical for crews to apply.
The CAA has not issued any Airworthiness Directives relating to the ingestion of engine fumes into the cabin on BAe 146. This issue is currently the subject of investigations by both the Australian Senate and the Swedish aviation authorities. Should these investigations reveal problems the CAA will ensure that appropriate action is taken.