Safety Of British Airways Aircraft (No.2)

EDM number 1088 in 1989-90, proposed by Dennis Skinner on 07/06/1990.

That this House notes with alarm the British Airways 757/767 operational Notice No. 28/90, originated by G.W.Crawford, Flight Manager, under the authority of G.A.C.Gray, Chief Pilot, 757/767, dated 1st June, headed 'Landing Gear Pins', which reported that an aircraft had to return to Heathrow that morning when the nose gear would not retract after take-off, and that the landing gear pin had not been removed since although the pin was seen in place during the walk-round, the crew's attention had subsequently been diverted by the need to resolve other technical and operational problems, and a positive check to confirm the pin's removal was not made; and further notes that Mr Crawford states 'you are reminded that, in the present industrial situation, your engineering assistance may not have the usual level of operational experience on which you can normally rely'; regards the Government inaction over the connivance of the Civil Aviation Authority with British Airways in allowing aircraft to fly in an unsafe condition as extremely dangerous; and further regards company statements that 'safety is paramount', in the light of the second paragraph, as dubious in the extreme.

This motion has been signed by a total of 9 MPs.