Catalogue description General records relating to aircraft research, development, production and civil aviation

Air Ministry

In January 1920 responsibility for aircraft design and production was transferred from the Ministry of Munitions to the Air Ministry (set up in 1918). In June 1922 the Director General of Supply and Research was renamed 'Air Member for Supply and Research'. In April 1924 the Directorate of Research was renamed the Directorate of Research and Technical Development. It was, in fact, a joint directorate with separate directors of scientific research and technical development. In 1938 the directorate came under the control of a new Director General of Research and Development. The Secretary of State for Air delegated certain of his functions in respect of civil aircraft to an Air Registration Board which was formally constituted in 1937. The expanding aircraft production programme after 1935 was at first the responsibility of the Air Member for Supply and Organisation, but in 1938 it passed to a civilian Director General of Production. In May 1940 the functions of the Air Member for Development and Production were transferred to the new Ministry of Aircraft Production. The Air Council Committee on Supply also became the responsibility of the new ministry and was renamed the Air Supply Board.

Ministry of Aircraft Production

The Ministry of Aircraft Production was responsible for the supply, inspection, and repair of aircraft, their armament and equipment, for research, design and development, and for storage pending issue to operational squadrons. The Ministry was also responsible for atomic energy research until this passed to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in 1941. In 1943 the Ministry of Aircraft Production's responsibilities for the erection of aircraft factories passed to the Ministry of Works. In August 1945 a combined Minister of Aircraft Production and Minister of Supply was appointed and on 1 April 1946 the Ministry of Aircraft Production was dissolved and its functions passed to the Ministry of Supply.

Ministry of Civil Aviation

A Ministry of Civil Aviation was established in April 1945 under an act which transferred to the new department the powers of the Air Ministry under the Air Navigation Acts and related legislation. These powers were later amplified in the Civil Aviation Act 1949 and were reflected in the organisation of the department. The primary duty of the Ministry was the encouragement and development of British civil aviation. This was carried out by all its divisions according to their specialised duties, but general responsibility rested with the Air Services Divisions, which were also charged with the supervision of civil air undertakings and private flying. The minister was advised in matters affecting the maintenance and charges of scheduled air services by an Air Transport Advisory Council and on the safety of civil aviation by an Air Safety Board; after July 1952 proposals for new services or changes in existing services were submitted through the same channel. The regulation of civil aviation covered a wide range of duties including the licensing, inspection and regulation of airports and aerodromes, supervision of matters of safety and training, and the investigation of accidents. The Ministry maintained a secretariat to serve the Conmonwealth Air Transport Council, Commonwealth and Empire conferences on Radio for Civil Aviation, and the Committee on Air Navigation and Group Organisation.

Ministry of Supply, aviation functions

In October 1959 the civil aviation functions of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation were transferred to the Ministry of Supply, which had already been merged with the Ministry of Aircraft Production. It was simultaneously disbanded and reconstituted as the Ministry of Aviation. At the same time the supply of equipment to the Royal Air Force, other than the production and supply of aircraft, was restored to the Air Ministry.

Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation

In 1951 the posts of Minister of Civil Aviation and Minister of Transport were committed to one minister. The minister's two departments continued to function separately until October 1953 when they were combined to form the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. Civil aviation remained distinct within the Ministry and links were still maintained with the Ministry of Supply and the Air Ministry. Functions remained largely unchanged until July 1959 when the Air Traffic Control Board was appointed and made responsible jointly to the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and the Secretary of State for Air. On 21 October 1959 the civil aviation functions of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation were transferred to the Ministry of Supply, which thereupon changed its title to the Ministry of Aviation.

Ministry of Aviation

The Ministry of Aviation retained the powers of a supply department with regard to guided missiles, radar and electronic equipment. The Hovercraft Section appears to have been created, within the Scientific Research (Air) and Future Aircraft Division, in 1966. The Ministry of Aviation's Aviation Operational Research Branch was transferred to the Board of Trade in 1966. Between July and December 1966 most of the Ministry's other civil aviation functions were transferred in stages to the Board of Trade.

Air Transport Licensing Board

In 1960 the Aviation Ministry's civil aviation licensing functions were transferred to a new Air Transport Licensing Board, which inherited the work of the Air Transport Advisory Council and incorporated the Ministry's functions in respect of the licensing of independent air services. The Board consisted of between six and ten paid members appointed by, and under the direction of, the Minister of Aviation. The Board was empowered to consider applications from independent companies for the operation and maintenance of scheduled services. The Board also reviewed the tariffs proposed by independent operators and made appropriate recommendations to the minister.

Ministry of Technology, aviation responsibilities

When the Ministry of Aviation was abolished in February 1967 the Ministry of Technology absorbed its responsibilities for sponsorship of the aircraft industry and its research and development functions. When the Ministry of Technology was merged in the Department of Trade and Industry in October 1970, its responsibilities for aerospace research, development and procurement, both civil and military, were allotted to a separate Ministry of Aviation Supply.