asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if having regard to the concentrated and exclusive attention which is expected of the captain and first officer of a passenger plane, in the event of an emergency due to engine failure and/or adverse weather conditions, he will have the question of the desirability of recommending to air companies that a radio operator should be carried on all regular passenger flights re-examined.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Radio Operator on Passenger Planes.
The only company operating regular passenger flights in this country dispensed with the carriage of a radio operator as a separate crew member in 1950. I refer the Deputy to a reply given to a Dáil question by the then Taoiseach, on behalf of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, on October 26th, 1950, which indicates that the matter was fully considered before the change was approved. I am fully satisfied that there are no grounds which wouldjustify my asking for a re-examination of the question.