§ Lord Glenarthurasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many notifications under the Civil Aircraft Notification procedure (CANP) from commercial helicopter operators in the United Kingdom were received by the Tactical Booking Cell at RAF West Drayton in the first six months of 1997; and
How many infringements of the CANP were reported in the first six months of 1997 and how many of these infringements were confirmed as breaches of the procedure by low flying military aircraft.
§ Lord GilbertSix hundred and sixty-three Civil Aircraft Notification Procedure (CANP) notifications were received by the MoD from commercial helicopter operators between 1 January and 30 June 1997. Twenty-five alleged infringements of CANP notification by low flying military aircraft were reported over this period, 19 of which were confirmed by RAF Police investigations. One alleged infringement was withdrawn and one was not substantiated. Four cases are still under investigation.
§ Lord Glenarthurasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration has been given to upgrading airspace covered by Civil Aircraft Notification procedure (CANP) to "prohibited" status.
§ Lord GilbertEntry into airspace surrounding commercial activity notified under CANP is already prohibited to all fixed wing military aircraft flying at low level at speeds faster than 140 knots. We believe that existing flight safety measures adequately minimise the risk of confliction between commercial flights and other categories of military aircraft activity (specifically those flying slower than 140 knots, those operating in a Military Air Traffic Zone and all helicopters); and between military low level flights and other non-commercial civil activities notified under CANP.