Aviation: Diversion of Stricken Aircraft

– in the House of Lords at 2:43 pm on 21 March 2006.

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Photo of Lord Rotherwick Lord Rotherwick Conservative 2:43, 21 March 2006

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the provisions for directing stricken aircraft to diversion airports are satisfactory.

Photo of Lord Davies of Oldham Lord Davies of Oldham Deputy Chief Whip (House of Lords), HM Household, Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

My Lords, the commander of an aircraft is responsible for the safety of that aircraft. Consequently, responsibility for determining what represents a suitable diversion airport rests with the commander. Each emergency incident is unique. It is not feasible to issue prescriptive guidance to air traffic controllers on handling emergency situations. Civil Aviation Authority guidance is regularly reviewed; the next modification will be promulgated on 28 April following the diversion of an aircraft—call-sign Evergreen 1435—into Heathrow.

Photo of Lord Rotherwick Lord Rotherwick Conservative

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his Answer. However, is he aware that in the past five years 39 aircraft such as airliners have declared emergencies—technical not medical emergencies—and have either landed at Heathrow or been diverted to Heathrow or Gatwick? Is it right that stricken aircraft that are probably in immediate danger should let down over densely populated areas such as the centre of London? In particular, the aircraft to which the Minister referred, the Evergreen, let down over the centre of London, having diverted to Heathrow. That aircraft had one engine shut off and three spooling down. Such aircraft in imminent danger should surely go to diversionary airfields. What diversionary airfields will be made available for the safety of the centre of London and other such urban centres?

Photo of Lord Davies of Oldham Lord Davies of Oldham Deputy Chief Whip (House of Lords), HM Household, Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

My Lords, the Evergreen commander demanded that the aircraft should put down at Heathrow, and he is the final arbiter of the airport designated because he alone can judge how serious the emergency is in his aircraft. The CAA is advising air traffic controllers that, where they can, they should communicate to commanders that the airfields to which they should go are those that involve the least risk, but the final decision is with the aircraft commander.

Photo of Baroness Trumpington Baroness Trumpington Conservative

My Lords, is the Minister aware that I speak as a past chairman of the Air Transport Users Council? As such, I commend what he said. Stricken aircraft, to use my noble friend's words, must go to the nearest airfield where they can land safely for themselves, their passengers and anyone on the ground. Is the number of near misses still published every year? That is well worth having a look at.

Photo of Lord Davies of Oldham Lord Davies of Oldham Deputy Chief Whip (House of Lords), HM Household, Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

My Lords, the number of near misses is identified in publications so that the accuracy can be presented in those terms. There are often rather melodramatic stories about how close aircraft get to each other that, when investigated, prove not to be a real emergency. This was a real emergency; the commander was above Heathrow and said that he intended the aircraft to set down at that airport. The air traffic controllers are obliged to comply.

Photo of Lord Clinton-Davis Lord Clinton-Davis Labour

My Lords, as the president of the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA), I can say that the Minister's Answer has the entire approval of the union. The decision should always be left to the pilot. Any other solution is not worthy of contemplation.

Photo of Lord Davies of Oldham Lord Davies of Oldham Deputy Chief Whip (House of Lords), HM Household, Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

My Lords, pilots are on flight plans where they might not know the available options, and air traffic controllers have been advised that, where they are in a position to communicate a choice of airfields that could be used in an emergency, the aircraft should be diverted to the one that will cause the fewest potential problems on the ground. But the ultimate position is for the commander of the aircraft to take.

Photo of Lord Campbell of Alloway Lord Campbell of Alloway Conservative

My Lords, I apologise for asking the right question at entirely the wrong time.

Photo of Lord Dixon-Smith Lord Dixon-Smith Shadow Minister (the Environment), Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

My Lords, I understand that the aircraft concerned in the accident that gave rise to the Question was coming in over the Thames estuary and heading for central London. From its location, it clearly could have landed in Manston, which is in east Kent. So far as the Minister is aware, was any attempt made to advise the aircraft captain of that possibility?

Photo of Lord Davies of Oldham Lord Davies of Oldham Deputy Chief Whip (House of Lords), HM Household, Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

My Lords, the aircraft was at 36,000 feet, and therefore had a range of options. But the pilot could see an airfield down below and said, "I can see through clear cloud that the visibility at that airport is excellent". When it was communicated to him that it was London Heathrow, he still decided to take that option.

Photo of Lord Rotherwick Lord Rotherwick Conservative

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the air traffic controller guidance states that it is desirable that aircraft should not be routed over densely populated areas in emergencies? Is he aware also that the Air Accidents Investigation Branch asks whether sufficient guidance is provided on the avoidance of built-up areas when vectoring aircraft in an emergency?

Photo of Lord Davies of Oldham Lord Davies of Oldham Deputy Chief Whip (House of Lords), HM Household, Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

My Lords, the Civil Aviation Authority and the whole aviation industry have learnt lessons from Evergreen 1435. The fresh advice emphasises that, where air traffic controllers can influence the commander of the aircraft, he should certainly, where it is possible, be diverted to the airport of least risk. On that occasion, the aircraft commander was insistent. The air traffic controllers complied and brought him down safely.