19. Dr. Bennettasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the nature of the exercise that requires eight to 10 Anson aircraft, numbered 50, 53, etc., to fly repeatedly to and fro on a line through Calshot Castle and Hill Head on reciprocal courses at altitudes of 500–2,000 feet; what rules of navigation govern the head-on meetings of these aircraft so that they pass either to right or to left of one another; and what safeguards exist in view of the fact that these aircraft constantly cross or go contrary to the circuit in force at Lee on Solent air station.
Mr. WardThese Anson aircraft, based at No. 1 Basic Air Navigation School, Hamble, are engaged on blind approach exercises, using a blind approach installation at Royal Air Force Station, Calshot. The standard rules of navigation governing head-on meetings apply: that is to say, each of two aircraft approaching bead-on shall alter course to the right.
96WThe Ansons are controlled by the Air Traffic Controller at Calshot, who is fully informed of the movements of all other aircraft in the area. Permission is obtained from Lee on Solent for aircraft to cross or enter the circuit at the naval air station, and blind approaches are discontinued whenever Lee-on-Solent wish to operate their own aircraft in the circuit. The Ansons are then diverted clear of the area.