Dr. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Royal Air Force fast jet pilots are currently qualified to fly at 100 ft above ground level;
(2) what are the weather minimums for low-flying training below 250 ft in the United Kingdom;
(3) what consideration has been given to establishing operational low flying at 100 ft above ground level as part of the regular continuation training programme for pilots on Royal Air Force fast jet squadrons.
§ Mr. FreemanI shall write to the hon. Member.
Dr. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1977 authorisation has been given to foreign air forces to conduct low-flying training over the United Kingdom at less than 250 ft above ground level; and if he will give for each such occasion the nationality, type and numbers of aircraft involved, the dates the training occurred, the location of the training, the number of sorties flown and the purpose of the training.
§ Mr. FreemanNo foreign air forces are authorised to fly in the United Kingdom low-flying system at less than 250 ft above ground level.
Dr. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a map showing the areas in which military jet aircraft are permitted to fly at less than 250 ft above ground level.
§ Mr. FreemanI have already described in detail to those hon. Members whose constituencies are involved the locations of the areas in which low-flying training below a level of 250 ft is authorised. The Welsh area consists of the south-west portion of Montgomery, north-west quarter of Brecon and Radnor, north-east corner of Carmarthen and eastern part of Ceredigion and Pembroke north.