§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which military aircraft engaged in exercises in the Rosehearty area of the Banff and Buchan district council have been involved in air misses on three separate occasions during the period of these exercises;
(2) what liaison exists between his Department and the civilian helicopter operators who are based at Aberdeen and Longside airports prior to the commencement of exercises by military aircraft in the East Aberdeenshire land area and in the North sea off the north-east coast of Scotland; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what instructions were issued to the pilots of the military aircraft who are engaged in exercises inland at Rosehearty, Aberdeenshire, and offshore to the North sea regarding safety precautions in flight paths used by helicopters operating between Aberdeen and Longside Airports and the North sea oil platforms; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeAs regards the air miss reports I refer to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the under-Secretary of State for Transport. Civil and military aircraft operate in this area according to established procedures which are promulgated to all airspace users, including military 571W pilots. During major military exercises special arrangements are made to ensure that other airspace users in the areas concerned are advised.