Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 May 2025. It was answered by Stephen Doughty (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 June 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

St Helena: Aviation

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49901 on Saint Helena: Aviation, whether the weather causing delayed flights includes wind shear; and whether this was identified as a potential issue prior to the construction of the airport.

Answer: Poor weather including cloud cover, high winds and wind shear has on occasion caused delays to scheduled flight services to St Helena Airport. Prior to the airport's construction, the initial expert advice provided to the former Department for International Development (DFID) assessed the risk of wind shear as low. Challenges with turbulence and wind shear were subsequently identified during a series of test flights into the airport in 2016, contributing to the airport's classification as a Category C airport. The FCDO pursued litigation in relation to some of the initial expert advice received, and reached a settlement in January 2019. I cannot comment on the detail of decisions made by the 2010-15 Conservative government.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 53480
Session: 2024-26
Related items: St Helena: Aviation
Monday, 12 May 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Aviation Standards St Helena
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk