§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many operational low-flying sorties were authorised in(a) the northern Scotland tactical training area, and (b) the central Wales tactical training area in each month from (i) January 1979 to December 1987, (ii) November and December 1990 and (iii) from May 1992 to the latest date available.
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§ Mr. HanleyFigures for operational low-flying sorties are not available. The numbers of operational low-flying movements authorised into the northern Scotland and central Wales tactical training areas in each month during the periods requested are set out in the table. A breakdown by month is not available for 1979.
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Northern Scotland Central Wales 1979 Total 664 123 1980 January 262 31 February 0 0 March 6 41 April 67 67 May 0 0 June 0 0 July 0 0 August 0 0 September 0 0 October 0 0 November 130 9 December 161 23 TOTAL 626 171 1981 January 175 46 February 0 0 March 15 0 April 89 0 May 0 6 June 6 7 July 0 0 August 0 0 September 251 0 October 24 0 November 0 0 December 41 0 TOTAL 601 59 1982 January 0 0 February 37 0 March 136 0 April 59 0 May 2 0 June 0 0 July 0 0 August 0 0 September 0 0 October 0 4 November 0 0 December 2 0 TOTAL 236 4 1983 January 48 2 February 30 0 March 41 0 April 309 0 May 90 0 June 144 0 July 79 0 August 91 50 September 98 0 October 69 0 November 349 6 December 289 13 TOTAL 1,637 71 1984 January 3 0
Northern Scotland Central Wales February 0 11 March 67 26 April 78 10 May 30 5 June 0 4 July 23 0 August 0 0 September 0 0 October 26 8 November 163 0 December 158 0 Total 548 64 1985 January 194 18 February 39 11 March 26 15 April 0 0 May 0 0 June 0 0 July 0 0 August 0 0 September 0 0 October 0 0 November 0 0 December 0 0 Total 259 44 1986 January 250 9 February 154 6 March 16 0 April 34 0 May 0 0 June 0 0 July 16 11 August 0 0 September 28 26 October 41 11 November 0 0 December 0 0 Total 539 63 1987 January 0 1 February 69 20 March 99 33 April 93 175 May 0 0 June 14 2 July 8 5 August 0 0 September 21 0 October 207 4 November 7 0 December 0 2 Total 518 242 1990 November 210 26 December 9 9 1992 May 0 33 June 248 0 522W
Harrier Tornado Jaguar Chinook Other helicopters Total 1992 January 58 343 0 0 0 401 February 188 349 0 0 0 537 March 87 479 0 0 1 567
Northern Scotland Central Wales July 198 0 August 6 9 September 2 0 October 0 68 November 2 26 December 26 0 1993 January 64 76 February 125 12 March 103 13 April 57 51 May 12 2 June 8 0 July 0 1 August 27 3
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sources of weather data for individual low flying areas are available to the tactical booking cell, RAF West Dray ton, for onward transmission to aircrews; and what changes have been made to the meteorological data collection facilities in low flying areas since 1979.
§ Mr. HanleyThe tactical booking cell, RAF West Drayton has no involvement in the transmission of weather data to aircrews. Before flying, aircrew receive a full and comprehensive meteorological briefing from the professional meteorological staff at their station. These staff have direct access to the facilities of the Meteorological Office at Bracknell.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level training sorties were carried out by Royal Air Force V-bomber aircraft from Goose Bay, Labrador, in each year from 1963 to 1982.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost and effort.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the changes made to the weather minima for visual flight rules operations in the United Kingdom low flying system since 1979.
§ Mr. HanleyMy noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying sorties were booked in the United Kingdom low flying system by aircraft from RAF Germany in each month from January 1992 to the latest available date, broken down by aircraft type.
§ Mr. HanleyThe numbers of sorties booked in the United Kingdom low flying system by aircraft from RAF Germany, which on 1 April 1993 was redesignated No. 2 Group RAF Strike Command, during the period from January 1992 to August 1993, the latest date for which data are available, are set out in the table.
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Harrier Tornado Jaguar Chinook Other helicopters Total April 85 343 0 0 0 428 May 192 241 0 2 1 436 June 230 239 0 1 0 470 July 309 243 0 0 0 552 August 61 186 0 0 0 247 September 88 170 0 0 0 258 October 180 447 0 0 0 627 November 84 186 0 1 0 271 December 110 157 26 0 10 303 TOTAL 1,672 3,383 26 4 12 5,097 1993 January 104 300 0 0 0 404 February 247 359 0 0 0 606 March 288 483 0 0 3 774 April 29 225 0 0 0 254 May 112 255 0 2 3 372 June 181 408 0 4 0 593 July 48 251 0 1 1 301 August 52 293 0 0 1 346 TOTAL 1,061 2,574 0 7 8 3,650
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum authorised altitude at which aircrew are trained to fly in(a) the tri-national Tornado training establishment and (b) each of the fast jet operational conversion units; and what changes have taken place in these authorised minima since 1985.
§ Mr. HanleyThe minimum authorised heights at which aircrew are permitted to fly are as follows:
- (a) Tri-national Tornado Training Establishment—500 ft.
- (b) Fast Jet Operational Conversion Units—250 ft.
The only change to have taken place in the authorised minima since 1985 occurred in 1991 when the authorised minimum height for all tri-national Tornado training establishment crews was raised from 250 ft to 500 ft.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the crew of the three Tornado F.3 aircraft of No. 29 squadron Royal Air Force which were involved in an unauthorised overflight of the community of Rigolet, Labrador, on 12 April, arrived at Canadian forces base Goose Bay.
§ Mr. HanleyThe aircrews of the aircraft concerned, which were staging through Canadian forces base Goose Bay en route to Alaska, arrived at Goose Bay on 12 April 1993. The incident occurred as they were approaching Goose Bay on their inward flight.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what warnings were given laterally and vertically to the low-flying military jet aircraft operating between approximately 2100 hours and 2130 hours on 10 August overflying the village of Clayton-with-Frickley, South Yorkshire, that there was a helicopter operating in the vicinity; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyA number of Tornado aircraft from RAF Cottesmore conducted routine low-level training in the areas at about the times stated on 10 August. No military helicopters were booked to low fly in the area at the time, and no notification was received under the civil aircraft notification procedure or by other means of any civil aircraft activity.
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§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates, nationality, number and type of aircraft, host air base, and host unit for all exchange visits by foreign air force units to the United Kingdom over the last five years; and what was the minimum authorised altitude for low flying by foreign aircrew involved in each of the exchange visits.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost and effort.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications took place between Royal Air Force officers and the Canadian authorities between February and June 1990 concerning changes in the radii by which RAF aircrew deployed to Goose Bay for low-level training were required to avoid hunting and fishing camps.
§ Mr. HanleyThe local files containing details of this exchange have since been destroyed and the information requested is therefore not available. Any changes in flying regulations resulting from the exchange would have been reflected in the appropriate operations directives issued by the Canadian authorities at Goose Bay at the time.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action was taken against the leader of the formation of Tornado F3 aircraft from No. 29 squadron Royal Air Force which was involved in an unauthorised overflight of the community of Rigolet, Labrador, on 12 April.
§ Mr. HanleyLocal action was taken against the individual concerned, but it is not our practice to give details of such action. Letters of apology were sent to the mayor of Rigolet by the leader of the formation and by the Officer Commanding No. 29 Squadron.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what numerical limits on US Air Force aircraft low flying in the United Kingdom have been agreed with the United States authorities since 1990 in order to accommodate increased low flying by aircraft from RAF Germany.
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§ Mr. HanleyA limit of 18,800 low flying sorties by Third United States Air Force aircraft in the United Kingdom low flying system was agreed for 1991 in order to provide leeway for increased low flying in the United Kingdom by aircraft from RAF Germany. Since then, Third United States Air Force low flying has reduced as a consequence of the withdrawal of aircraft from the United Kingdom and it has not been necessary to impose any specific ceiling on activity.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the numbers of low flying sorties, by each specified foreign air arm, in the United Kingdom low flying system for each month from January 1992 to the latest date available; and how many of the sorties for each air arm were authorised to minimum heights of(a) 250 ft, (b) 500 ft and (c) 1,000 ft or above.
Jan. Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total 1992 Netherlands — 12 115 18 139 62 74 — 106 32 2 2 562 France — — 106 2 9 30 26 — 194 — 2 22 391 Italy — 6 4 6 86 32 54 45 6 — — — 239 Denmark 10 — 48 32 — 19 25 — 38 — — 24 196 USA — 4 76 1 16 1 10 — 52 3 8 — 171 Germany — — 72 26 42 26 — — 58 4 — 2 230 Belgium — — 62 — 23 16 62 — 14 2 — 4 183 Canada — — — 2 36 2 — — 2 3 — — 45 Spain — — — — — 20 — — — — — — 20 Portugal — — — — — — — — 4 2 — — 6 Turkey — — — — — — — — — — — — 0 TOTAL 10 22 483 87 351 208 251 45 474 46 12 54 2,043 1993 Netherlands — 137 — 8 5 — 21 15 12 — — — 198 France 2 88 4 2 13 — — 12 71 — — — 192 Italy — 4 13 — — 24 138 43 24 — — — 246 Denmark — 44 6 14 4 30 8 — 82 — — — 188 USA — 24 — 21 — 51 — 35 80 — — — 211 Germany — — 6 — 2 — 16 6 82 — — — 112 Belgium — — 4 16 — — — 5 34 — — — 59 Canada — — — — — — — — — — — — 0 Spain — — — — — 14 — — — — — — 14 Portugal — — — — — — — — 27 — — — 27 Turkey — — — — 4 — — — — — — — 0 TOTAL 2 297 33 61 28 119 183 116 412 0 0 0 1,251
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the crew of the three Tornado F3 aircraft of No. 29 squadron Royal Air Force which were involved in an unauthorised overflight of the community of Rigolet, Labrador, on 12 April, had confirmed in writing prior to their flight that they had read and understood the Canadian forces base Goose Bay flying orders.
§ Mr. HanleyThe aircrew concerned had not read the Canadian Forces Goose Bay flying orders as they were not planning to operate out of Goose Bay other than for transit in and out of the air base, en route for Alaska.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the(a) recorded height and (b) aircraft type of the military fast jet aircraft that overflew the village of Clayton-with-Frickley in South Yorkshire at approximately 1359 hours on 22 September; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyA Tornado aircraft from RAF Cottesmore was conducting a routine low-level training sortie in the
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§ Mr. HanleyThe numbers of sorties flown by aircraft of foreign air forces in the United Kingdom low flying system in each month from January 1992 to September 1993, the latest date for which information is available, are shown in the table. This flying is carried out under reciprocal arrangements which permit RAF aircraft to fly at low level in the countries concerned. The figures exclude low flying by foreign aircraft based in the United Kingdom.
Information on authorised minimum heights could be provided only at disproportionate cost and effort. In general, sorties will not have been authorised below 500 ft or, in the case of German and Belgian aircraft, 1,000 ft.
area at about the time stated on 22 September. We have no reason to believe the aircraft flew below the permitted height of 1000 ft.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the minimum authorised altitude for the flight by three Tornado F3 aircraft of No. 29 squadron Royal Air Force from Canadian forces base Goose Bay which overflew the community of Rigolet, Labrador, at approximately 2 pm on 12 April.
§ Mr. Hanley2000 ft.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sorties by Royal Navy Sea Harrier aircraft in the United Kingdom low flying system at less than 250 ft were authorised in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. HanleyThe available statistics on operational low flying in the United Kingdom low-flying system do not distinguish between sorties flown by Royal Navy Sea Harrier aircraft and those flown by Royal Air Force Harrier aircraft. The Sea Harrier, however, carries out very little flying below 250 ft over land.
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§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the crew of the three Tornado F3 aircraft of No. 29 squadron Royal Air Force which were involved in an unauthorised overflight of the community of Rigolet, Labrador, on 12 April received a briefing from Canadian forces personnel on the environmental restrictions in force for military flying from Goose Bay prior to their flight.
§ Mr. HanleyThe aircrews concerned did not receive a briefing from Canadian forces personnel before their flight, as the flight originated in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the required continuation training flying hours of Royal Air Force Tornado aircrew consisted of low altitude flying(a) before and (b) since 1991.
§ Mr. HanleyUntil very recently the Tornado continuation training syllabus has not specified any minimum requirement for low-flying training. The general principle which has applied and continues to do so is that aircrew should carry out the minimum necessary low flying consistent with acquiring and maintaining the necessary skills. This position did not change in 1991.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the bird strike incidents involving Royal Air Force fast jet aircraft operating from Canadian forces base Goose Bay since 1990, providing for each incident(a) the date, (b) the location, (c) the height and speed of the aircraft, (d) the species or type of bird involved and (e) the category of damage to the aircraft.
§ Mr. HanleyThere has been only one recorded bird strike since 1 January 1990. On 31 August 1993, a Tornado GR1 hit an unidentified bird species 130 nautical miles north west of the Goose Bay airfield. There was no damage to the aircraft, which was operating at 120 ft and 420 knots.
§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level sorties have been conducted from Canadian forces base, Goose Bay during 1993 by Royal Air Force Tornado F3 aircraft; and if he will indicate the dates during which Tornado F3 aircraft were deployed at Goose Bay.
§ Mr. HanleyRoyal Air Force Tornado F3 aircraft carried out two low-level sorties at Goose Bay during 1993. These aircraft were deploying to Alaska, but staged through Goose Bay, and were there from 12 to 15 April.