Vol. 427 No. 3
38 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he will introduce a mandatory time limit for his Department to process any application, particularly from the aviation overhaul industry; and if he will ensure that his Department will either approve or reject each application, and in the latter case give the reason for refusal, as appears to be standard in other European countries.
Where a company applies for an approval of a particular maintenance or overhaul capability, that application is examined by my Department in terms of the company's facilities, equipment, personnel and procedures. When the company complies effectively with the relevant requirements approval may be granted.
This process depends very much on the company complying effectively with the requirements of my Department. The time involved is variable and it would be neither fair nor feasible to lay down a standard "maximum" time within which the approval must be effected or the application rejected.
My Department will continue to assist organisations seeking approval with the required process. Since last year my Department has been implementing the new European Standards (termed Joint Aviation Regulations) in relation to applications for maintenance and overhaul approvals. These regulations do not specify any time limit for the approval of applications.
