§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the arrangements for the separation of military and civil air traffic over the Western Isles will be adequate to cope with the increased levels of military air traffic in this area as a result of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation redevelopment of Stornoway airport; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeFlying activities at Stornoway will continue to be conducted in accordance with existing regulations which govern the operation of civil and military aircraft at Stornoway and all other similar airfields in the United Kingdom. The regulations have been developed over many years and take account of all relevant factors. They are considered to be adequate to maintain the separation of military and civil air traffic over the Western Isles.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the proportion of low level military flights in United Kingdom airspace which included overflight of the Western Isles, giving figures for each of the past 10 years.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made to air traffic control and safety procedures, particularly those designed to ensure safe separation of civil from military air traffic, over the Western Isles following the incorporation of that area into the United Kingdom military low flying system in 1979.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Defence which of the air misses between civil and military aircraft recorded over the Western Isles in 1973, 1974, 1976, 1980 and 1982 occurred at heights less than 2,000 ft above ground level.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made to the requirements for military aircraft to report their position in the airspace over and adjacent to the Western Isles as a result of the air misses occurring in 1973, 1974, 1976, 1980 and 1982.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made to the requirements for military aircraft to report their position in the vicinity of Stornoway airport as a result of the air misses occurring in 1973, 1974 and 1976.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made to air traffic 590W control and safety procedures in the air space over and adjacent to the Western Isles as a result of the air misses occurring in 1973, 1974, 1976, 1980 and 1982.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made to air traffic control and air safety procedures in the vicinity of Stornoway airport as a result of air misses occurring in 1973, 1974 and 1976.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his powers to prevent air traffic controllers at civil airports from inviting, or allowing, military aircraft flying in the vicinity of those airports, to perform low passes and approaches for the benefit of aircraft enthusiasts on the ground.
§ Mr. LeeThe Secretary of State for Defence holds no powers of control over civilian air traffic controllers who are responsible for air traffic movements in the vicinity of civil airports.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many practice approaches and practice diversions by military aircraft have been carried out at Stornoway airport in each year since, and including, 1978; and if he will provide a monthly breakdown of the figures.