§ 61. Mr. Mitchisonasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that in a recent crash not very far from Kettering, four men baled out, and were killed, from an aircraft flying at an extremely low altitude, and that complaints have been made from places in and around Kettering about the noise of low flying jet aircraft; and whether in the light of the details which have been communicated to him, he will cause inquiries to be made and steps to be taken, in the interests of safety and quiet, to prevent low flying.
§ Mr. AmeryAs I have explained in a letter to the hon. Member, this tragic accident occurred as the aircraft was coming in to land at Chelveston airfield. The aircraft had not been engaged in a low flying exercise. Inquiries have shown that the low flying, about which complaints were made, was carried out by aircraft on properly authorised low level flights. Regular practice in the technique of low flying is an essential part of military training. Low flying146W areas and routes are carefully chosen so that the minimum disturbance is caused to the public and pilots are instructed to avoid flying over inhabited areas as far as possible.