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Low Flying

Volume 174: debated on Wednesday 13 June 1990

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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flying sorties at less than 250 ft have been authorised over the United Kingdom in each year since 1985.

In 1989 the number of movements authorised for flying below 250 ft within tactical training areas was as follows:

Tactical training areaOperational low flying movementsNumber of days on which operational low flying was authorised
Northern Scotland817129
Central Wales89105
Borders1,788157
Figures for sorties that have been flown below 250 ft are not available, but figures for movements for previous years have been given in the replies given by my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 30 October 1987 at column

487 and on 20 January 1988 at columns 764–65, and in the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy on 25 May 1989 at columns 732–33.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum permitted number of aircraft in a formation during low-flying training at less than 250 ft in each of the three tactical training areas.

The number of aircraft in a tactical formation at low level is determined by aircraft role and the type of exercise being carried out. However, formations do not normally consist of more than eight aircraft.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the authorised low-flying movements below 250 ft over the United Kingdom in each of the years from 1985 to 1989 consisted of continuation training sorties to maintain aircrew currency in flying at less than 250 ft, as opposed to work-up training for specific Flag exercises in north America.

I regret the information requested is not readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the forthcoming survey of noise levels from low-flying military aircraft to be conducted; and at what location the survey will be held.

A trial is currently being conducted at the Royal Aerospace Establishment West Freugh range to obtain further information on noise levels generated by military aircraft at low level and, weather permitting, will be completed during this month. Following evaluation of the data, the results of the study are expected to be available early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the lateral radius, expressed in nautical miles, of the avoidance areas around noise-sensitive sites in tactical training areas.

Avoidance criteria adopted in any case will depend on the site concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what purposes RAF C-130 Hercules aircraft undertake low flying; and under what circumstances they receive clearance to fly between 100 and 250 feet.

The tactical transport role of the RAF C-130 Hercules aircraft requires it to be capable of operating in a potentially hostile environment at low level. Aircraft may be cleared to fly at under 250 ft in the United Kingdom to undertake training in the three tactical training areas or to carry out free-drop training on designated drop zones in military danger areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flights in the United Kingdom low-flying system were undertaken during the years 1987, 1988 and 1989 by (a) RAF C-130 Hercules, (b) USAF C-130 Hercules, (c) USAF C-141 Starlifter and (d) USAF C-5 Galaxy; and how many of these flights for each of those years were in areas 14, 14T, 14C, 16 and 20T of the low-flying system.

The information requested is not readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate cost and effort.