HL Deb 29 April 1975 vol 359 cc1185-7
Lord TREFGARNE

My 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:

  1. (i) how many collisions or reported near misses involving low flying Service aircraft have occurred during the last five years;
  2. (ii) whether they will now publish the routes used by low flying Service air-craft thus enabling civil aircraft to keep clear.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, the number of collisions involving military aircraft flying below 2,000 feet is a total of eight for the five-year period 1970–74, of which only one occurred within the low flying system. The number of near misses within the system during this period was twenty-five. On the second point, Her Majesty's Government keep military low-flying procedures under continuous review to ensure that collisions and near misses are kept to the minimum. A range of measures is being considered which includes the possibility of publishing the geography of the United Kingdom's low flying system.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply, which I must say was rather more helpful than, perhaps unwisely, I anticipated. Is the noble Lord able to give us any more information about the accident which occurred last year when a crop-spraying aircraft was, I believe, destroyed and the pilot killed by a low flying RAF aircraft— an accident which occurred, I believe, within the low flying system? Is he satisfied that those people in particular—that is, the crop-spraying aircraft—are able to ascertain whether or not their activities will take place in dangerous areas?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, first may I say that we endeavour to give satisfaction. Secondly, may I say that this particular case, the collision between a Phantom and a Chero-kee, is under study by the Chief Inspector of Accidents. I think it would be more helpful if the noble Lord put down a specific Question in the not too distant future relating to this particular accident, when I shall be able to give him more detailed information.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord. Can he say whether the report into the accident will be published?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I am certain that it must be published, because a civilian aircraft has for the first time been involved and the public will wish to know the background. The delay is due to the fact that the parents of the Cherokee pilot were in New Zealand and had to be contacted and evidence taken.

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, is the noble Lord satisfied that those aircraft which have business in the low flying areas in which Service aircraft fly have the opportunity of knowing that those are areas in which this low flying happens?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I would agree with the noble Lord that every effort should be made to make certain that individuals know. I think it would be of advantage, as I have said, if the map were published, with perhaps annual amendments, of the low flying areas. But as the noble Lord must be well aware, air traffic control keep a close watch through radar on every aeroplane flying throughout the United Kingdom.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that no radar covers low flying aircraft?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

Yes, my Lords, I beg your Lordships' pardon. But when an aircraft is moving into a low flying area it must be spotted.

Viscount ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, can my noble friend tell me whether, when he gave us his first figure of collisions and near misses, these were all collisions between Service aircraft and civilian aircraft, or were some of them collisions between Service aircraft?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, all the collisions mentioned, with the exception mentioned by the noble Lord, Lord Trefgarne, were between Service aircraft in low flying areas.

Lord SLATER

My Lords, will my noble friend state whether the use of low flying aircraft is on the increase? If so, is there not extreme responsibility upon the pilots of these low flying aircraft, instead of Her Majesty's Government having to be brought into the picture every time anything like this happens?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, officers of the Royal Air Force and other air forces using this low flying circuit are all responsible men who are well aware of the dangers, and, since their own lives depend on them, are particularly intersted in carrying out safety procedures.

Viscount MONCKTON of BRENCHLEY

My Lords, would the noble Lord not agree that it is essential that Service aircraft should carry out regular, frequent, low flying everywhere?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, we might as well disband the Royal Air Force if we did not do so.

Back to