Written question asked by Mark Francois (Conservative) on Monday, 18 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Tuesday, 26 May 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Military Aircraft: Safety

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the policy of the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) regarding the risk of potential leaks of engine oil or lubricants into the cockpit atmosphere of military aircraft.

Answer: The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) regulates military airworthiness risk within the policy framework set by the Secretary of State for Defence in the Health, Safety & Environmental Protection statement. The MAA’s Regulatory Articles and Defence Standards require that aircraft designs minimise the risk of cockpit or cabin air contamination by engine oil, lubricants, fuel vapours, or combustion products. Any residual risk must be managed within the aircraft’s safety case to ensure aircrew safety and operational capability.

Secondary information