Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list those areas of the United Kingdom where heavy propeller driven aircraft are permitted to fly at less than 250 feet minimum separation distance.
§ Mr. NeubertFlying below 250 feet by heavy propeller-driven aircraft is permitted, on special authorisation, in the three tactical training areas and for free-drop training on designated drop zones in military danger areas.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the numbers of aircraft movements authorised for low-flying at less than 250 feet minimum separation distance in(a) the Northern Scotland tactical training area, (b) the Central Wales tactical training area, and (c) the Borders tactical training area during 1988; and on how many days in 1988 such low flying was authorised in each training area.
§ Mr. NeubertThe information requested regarding aircraft movements authorised for flying below 250 feet within tactical training areas during 1988 is given in the table. It should be noted that figures for the number of days on which flying took place are likely to have been substantially lower because alternative dates are often requested for use in the event of bad weather. It should also be noted that the movements figures for the borders tactical training area have, since July 1988, been recorded on a different basis following the extension to the Borders training area approved by my predesessor in March 1988 and the number of movements quoted for this area is not therefore directly comparable with previous figures.
Tactical training area Operational low flying movements Number of days on which operational low flying was authorized Northern Scotland 828 115 Central Wales 60 60 Borders 1,227 121