§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Royal Air Force's flying training at low level is currently conducted in each of the following areas (a) Canada, (b) the United States of America, (c) the Federal Republic of Germany, (d) Cyprus, (e) Sardinia, (f) the Falkland Islands, (g) the Netherlands, (h) other European locations and (i) other non-European locations.
§ Mr. FreemanWe do not keep records of the proportion of the Royal Air Force's training at low level conducted in the countries listed, and it would require disproportionate effort to obtain this information from available statistics.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the proportionate increase in the number of night low-flying training sorties carried out by the Royal Air Force as a result of the introduction of the Harrier GR5.
§ Mr. FreemanIt is not possible to say in advance of the introduction of the Harrier GR5 what effect this will have on night low-flying training sorties. This is not likely to be clear until the early 1990s. If, however, there is an increase, it will relate closely to the number of Harrier GR5s to be based in the United Kingdom, and is likely to be small.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence if flying at less than 100 ft above ground level is authorised anywhere in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanLight, fixed-wing aircraft of the Army Air Corps may be authorised to fly at not less than 50 ft minimum separation distance in specially selected and surveyed areas. Throughout the United Kingdom low-flying system helicopters may fly below 100 ft minimum separation distance. However, to limit disturbance to the public, fast jet aircraft and heavy propeller aircraft are not584W authorised in peace-time to fly at less than 100 ft above ground level although flying at lower levels would almost certainly be necessary in war-time, to avoid enemy defensive systems.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level military training sorties were flown over the United Kingdom by United States Air Force F-111s aircraft in each year since 1974.
§ Mr. FreemanRecords of low-level training sorties by aircraft type were not kept until 1985, when United States Air Force F-111 flew 11,260 sorties, and 11,148 during 1986.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many enquiries have been received by his Department in each year since 1974 about low-flying training; and how many of these were complaints about disturbance from low flying aircraft.
§ Mr. FreemanOf the correspondence received, central records are kept only of low-flying complaints. These are as follows:
Year Numbers 1974 1,467 1975 1,526 1976 1,279 1977 1,730 1978 2,290 1979 4,004 1980 3,365 1981 4,502 1982 3,304 1983 5,164 1984 5,609 1985 4,206 1986 5,304 1987 1451 1 Up to 28 February.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the total number of military low-level training sorties flown over the United Kingdom in 1986 was accounted for by (a) fast jets, (b) light jet trainers, (c) heavy propeller-driven aircraft, (d) light propeller-driven aircraft and (e) helicopters.
§ Mr. FreemanThe proportion of military low-level training sorties flown over the United Kingdom during 1986 for each of the categories stated was as follows:
Per cent. Fast jets 61 Light jet trainers 10 Heavy propeller-driven aircraft 2 Light propeller-driven aircraft 1 Helicopters 26
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of low-level military training sorties flown over the United Kingdom in each year since 1974.
§ Mr. FreemanThe total number of military low level training sorties flown in the United Kingdom was as follows:
585W
Number 1974 71,000 1975 78,000
Number 1976 77,700 1977 76,000 1978 76,000 1979 108,860 1980 122,850 1981 131,840 1982 130,310 1983 128,000 1984 133,500 1985 141,760 1986 151,160 1987 120,749 1 Up to 28 February.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the changes made since 1974 in the basis of calculation of the numbers of military low-level training sorties over the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. FreemanSince 1974 only one change has been made in the calculation of military low-level training sorties over the United Kingdom. Prior to 1985 the number of sorties flown was estimated from the total number of movements logged between low flying areas. Since 1985, the number of sorties flown has been recorded directly. The introduction of the new United Kingdom low-flying system in 1979 did not affect the basis of the calculation of sortie numbers.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the total number of low-level military training sorties flown over the United Kingdom in each year since 1974 was represented by aircraft from (a) the Royal Air Force, (b) other British military services, (c) the United States Air Force, (d) other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation air forces and (e) non-NATO air forces.
§ Mr. FreemanBefore 1985 statistics of sorties by operating authority were not kept. Since then statistics have been kept, although not in the precise form requested. Details are as follows:
Operating authority Proportion of sorties flown 1985 Per cent. 1986 Per cent. British Military 81 82 USAF 18 17 Others 1 1
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence on what date low-level flying by British military aircraft over the United Kingdom at a minimum height of 100 ft above ground level was first authorised.
§ Mr. FreemanUltra low flying, that is flying below 250 ft, has been practised by the RAF since the second world war. It has, however, always been specially authorised, and strictly limited to avoid undue disturbance to the public. In more recent years out policy has been to concentrate such flying in specially designated, sparsely populated, areas in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names of military air exercises conducted over the United Kingdom in each year since 1974 in which low-level flying down to 100 ft above ground level was authorised.
§ Mr. FreemanNo military air exercises in the United Kingdom involve flying below a level of 250 ft. Exercises586W involving ultra low flying, that is below this and down to 100 ft, are normally held in the United States of America and Canada. Some, strictly limited, work-up training for these exercises does take place in the United Kingdom, but within specially designated, sparsely populated areas.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of military low-level training sorties flown over the United Kingdom in 1986 involved authorisation to fly not below (a) 1.500 ft, (b) 1.000 ft, (c) 500 ft, (d) 250 ft, (e) 200 ft, (f) 150 ft and (g) 100 ft.
§ Mr. FreemanThis information is not available.