§ Lord BRAYEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what restrictions, if any, are placed on helicopters flying over London or other cities or towns in the United Kingdom.
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, helicopters are allowed to fly on the established helicopter routes in the London area at heights between 500 ft. and 1,500 ft. However, over a specified area of Central London a helicopter may not fly below the height necessary to enable it to alight clear of the area in the event of engine failure. Over other cities and towns in the United Kingdom the height at which helicopters are allowed to fly is governed by the provisions of Rule 5 of the Air, in particular the provision requiring a helicopter to fly at a height that would enable it to land without danger to persons or property on the surface in the event of engine failure.
§ Lord BRAYEMy Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for her reply, may I draw her attention to the fact that, if a helicopter blade comes off, the helicopter will descend vertically, wherever it is?
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, of course, I cannot disagree with the noble Lord on that point, but those are the safety measures in force at the moment. So far as London is concerned, there are the recognised helicopter routes, and, for the most part, the helicopter route over 128 London—subject to the comings and goings at Heathrow Airport—is over the river; so helicopters would have rather a wet landing if they came down.