Vol. 396 No. 7
14 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if Irish airlines are to be asked to implement the recommendations of the British Civil Aviation Authority, arising from the Manchester Airport disaster in 1985, that aisles through bulkhead or partition openings be widened to improve escape routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I understand that the UK Civil Aviation Authority has made a recommendation to the Joint Aviation Authorities of Europe, of which Ireland is a member, concerning aisle widths at bulkheads. The matter is being investigated by the Joint Aviation Authorities and if and when new standards are promulgated they will be implemented by my Department where applicable.
Does the Minister have any idea of when the Joint Aviation Authority will make their recommendation? If such a recommendation is made will the Minister make sure that Aer Lingus abide by it?
I expect the recommendation within six months and if the Joint Aviation Authority agree to it our airlines will, of course, abide by it.
Does the Minister not agree it is important that Aer Lingus be requested to reduce the bulkheads or the size of the openings in the partitions without having to wait for instructions given the details which are available from the British Aviation Authority who carried out tests and surveys as a result of a very serious accident in which 50 people were killed?
I do not think we should move in advance of the Joint Aviation Authority's decision in the matter. This is a very technical matter in which substantial costs and, of course, very important safety ramifications are involved. The important thing now is to get the decision of the Joint Aviation Authority, which is made up of 14 states acting together. We need to hear from them before we make any move.
I appreciate what the Minister has said but what we are talking about here is an increase of only an extra six inches which will increase the existing standard aperture opening from 24 inches to at least 30 inches. It has been proven that vital extra seconds can be gained in an emergency evacuation of a plane if this is done. I reject the Minister's observation that there would be tremendous structural problems involved in this exercise.
I am not technically minded but I gather that changing any aircraft by even an inch could be quite a technical challenge particularly if it has to be done to existing aeroplanes. When safety considerations are involved there is an established procedure whereby 14 states come together in the Joint Aviation Authority to set new standards for aircraft manufacture and decide on technical matters. It will certainly be safer for us if we do not rush ahead until we hear from them.
