§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what checks are carried out on Concorde to ensure its structural integrity; and if he will make a statement. [86588]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe structural integrity of Concorde is ensured in service by way of a phased inspection programme designed to detect potential failures. Both visual and non-destructive examination techniques, such as ultra sound scanning, are used in this process. Inspections are repeated periodically, with the frequency depending on the structural location in question. The efficacy of these inspections is continually reviewed by the UK and French airworthiness authorities in co-operation with Concorde's Anglo-French manufacturers.