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Dept for Transport

Answer

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what powers he has to revoke licences for airworthiness certificates for aerostats currently in operation in the UK whose certification came through Grandfather rights; [196547] (2) what account the certifying authority takes of a track record of a proven aerostat system when considering applications for certification; [196550] (3) which organisation is responsible for administering the process of aircraft type certification for applications made in respect of UK manufactured products; and which organisation makes the final decision on whether specific type certification should be granted in respect of an application from a UK manufacturer; [196551] (4) what applications for type certifications (a) have been made, (b) are pending and (c) have been granted in respect of tethered gas balloons manufactured in the UK; [196552] (5) whether the organisation responsible for processing the aircraft type certification is required to carry out technical studies of (a) the winch apparatus and (b) other components of the Aerostat system; and whether it is (i) entitled and (ii) otherwise permitted to accept third party attestations regarding such components from responsible bodies for the purposes of processing such certifications; [196553] (6) whether he has ascertained from the European Aviation Safety Agency whether the Health and Safety Executive is deemed to be a responsible body for the purposes of safety accreditation such that its certification of winch apparatus may be deemed sufficient for the purposes of aircraft type certification; [196554] (7) whether the Health and Safety Executive is deemed by the Civil Aviation Authority to be a responsible body for the purposes of safety accreditation of the winch apparatus forming part of an Aerostat system such that its certification may be deemed sufficient for the purposes of aircraft type certification; [196555] (8) what steps Lindstrand Technologies Limited of Oswestry, Shropshire, should take in order to acquire the necessary certification allowing the sale of their HiFlyer Aerostat in (a) the UK and (b) the EU; [196556] (9) what formal certification of specification has been promulgated for tethered gas balloons (aerostats); on what date it was promulgated; and by which organisation. [196654] Charlotte Atkins: The historical background to the certification of aerostats (also known as gas balloons) is set out at length in the answer of 29 September 2003, Official Report, 6 October 2003 columns 1057-60W given to the hon. Member. This answer outlines the changes to the treatment of such aircraft that were brought about by EC Regulation 1592/2002 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and related provisions for grandfather rights and transitional arrangements. EASA took up its certification responsibilities on 28 September 2003 and the necessary Commission Regulations detailing how these responsibilities are implemented are set down in Commission Regulations No. 1702/2003 and 2042/2003. Article 10(1) of EC Regulation 1592/2002 provides that member states may react immediately to a safety problem which involves a product subject to the provisions of that regulation; this would cover the revocation of a Certificate of Airworthiness for aerostats currently in operation in the UK whose certification came through grandfather rights. Prior to 28 September 2003, the CAA were responsible for both administering the process of aircraft type certification for UK products and made the final decision on granting the certification. Since that date, with some minor exceptions, these have been the responsibility of EASA. The only application to date for type certification for a UK manufactured tethered gas balloon has been for the Lindstrand HiFlyer (also known as the HiFlyer Aerostat) and was made on 9 September 2003. It is therefore subject to transitional arrangements whereby the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has continued to carry out the necessary certification exercise, which involves satisfying itself that the aircraft meets the applicable safety standards; its compliance findings would be deemed to have been made by the agency. The sale of this product in either the UK or the EU can be achieved by either continuing with and completing the current certification exercise through the CAA or by making a new application directly to EASA. The latter would also be likely to involve the CAA being asked to conduct the detailed certification work on behalf of the agency. Under the procedures which the CAA is currently following for certifying the HiFlyer, the authority is required to satisfy itself that both the winch apparatus and all other components of a tethered gas balloon/ aerostat meet applicable safety standards. This requires specific work to be carried out to show that compliance with the requirements is achieved. If the aerostat had a proven positive track record prior to the application the CAA will note it, but it will not defray any compliance showing. If the proven track record is adverse, the CAA will assure itself during the process that the designer is addressing the issues. The formal certification specifications and processes have not yet been formally adopted and published by EASA. On 27 February 2003, the European Commission, through the auspices of the Central JAA, promulgated for comment a draft of a proposed certification specification and the CAA has been using these, in consultation with the agency, in order to progress the work on the HiFlyer, The draft certification processes provide that use can be made of third part attestations such as "expert body" accreditations of winches and ground equipments, but the agency has not yet defined how particular organisations should be accepted as "expert bodies". For this reason, neither the agency nor the CAA has been able to deem formally that the Health and Safety Executive is a responsible body for the purposes of safety accreditation of the winch apparatus forming part of an aerostat system. However, the authority is reviewing the existing HSE accreditation and if satisfied that compliance is shown with safety standards will be able to accept its findings as a suitable third party attestation. There is no obligation to accept such attestations.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

426 c486-8W; 196547;196550;196551;196552;196553;196554;196555;196556;196654

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Aviation Licensing EU law Standards Safety Safety measures Ballooning

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk