Borders Tactical Training Area (Hansard, 28 July 1988)

§ Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the percentage increase in the size of the Borders tactical training area represented by the recent expansion of this area;

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(2) on what date the military low-flying management group recommended the recent extension of the Borders tactical training area;

(3) what increase is planned in the number of military training flights authorised to fly at less than 250 ft above the ground in the Borders tactical training area;

(4) if he will make a statement on the extension of the Borders tactical training area;

(5) what population density threshold was used in determining the new boundaries of the Borders tactical training area;

(6) what types of low-level training at less than 250 ft altitude, other than work-up training for exercises in the United States of America and Canada, are conducted in the Borders tactical training area;

(7) how long it takes in terms of (a) years and (b) the cumulative number of low-flying sorties, for the training value obtained from extending low-flying into new, unfamiliar territory to decline to a level at which it ceases to be operationally valuable;

(8) what are the specified standards which a Royal Air Force pilot must achieve before being permitted to fly at less than 250 ft;

(9) what changes have taken place since 1979 in the amount of operational low-flying training at less than 250 ft which is calculated to be the minimum operationally necessary;

(10)if he will list the changes to the boundaries of the Borders tactical training area since 1979, specifying the geographical location and date of any changes;

(11) if he will list the planned periods of operational low-flying training to be conducted in the Borders tactical training area up to the end of 1988;

(12) what proportion of low flying at less than 250 ft in the Borders tactical training area is conducted between the hours of (a) 7 am and 7 pm (b) 7 pm and 11 pm and (c) 11 pm and 7 am; and what changes are planned in these proportions;

(13) if he will list the major accidents to Royal Air Force aircraft since 1979 which occurred during flights authorised to fly at less than 250 ft.

(14) if he will publish statistics indicating the rate of accidents to Royal Air Force aircraft flying at less than 250 ft;

(15) how many complaints have been received in each year since 1979 about low flying by aircraft authorised to fly at less than 250 ft.