HL Deb 23 July 1964 vol 260 cc878-9WA
LORD CLITHEROE

asked Her Majesty's Government℄

  1. (a) How many low flying planes passed over residential areas in South-West London between the hours of midnight and 7 a.m. during the first ten days of July?
  2. (b) What regulations with regard to height and night flights over residential areas are in force, and whether these regulations are being broken?
  3. (c) What steps are taken by the authorities if such regulations are broken?

LORD CHESHAM

(a) During the period mentioned 249 aircraft landed to the West and 16 took off to the East from the main runway at Heathrow. These were the only operations which involved flying over South-West London. All were conducted under positive air traffic control and, so far as I am aware, none committed a breach of the low flying regulations.

(b) These regulations are set out in Rule 5 of the Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Control Regulations, 1960.* This rule, which applies equally by day or night, provides broadly that except when landing or taking off from Government or licensed aerodromes aeroplanes must, over built-up areas, fly at such a height that in the event of engine failure they can reach open country and, in any case, they must not come below 1,500 ft. above any building or structure. These regulations are not being broken.

(c) If sufficient evidence of a breach of the rule is forthcoming consideration would be given to the prosecution of the person or party concerned.

* S.I. No. 1070, as amended in particular by The Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Control (Sixth Amendment) Regulations, 1963 (S.I. No. 697).