Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what geographical area, expressed(a) by county and (b) by parliamentary constituency, is covered by low flying area 17.
§ Mr. FreemanLow flying area 17 covers(a) parts of the counties of Cumbria, Durham, Iancashire and North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire and (b) the parliamentary constituencies of Barrow and Furness, Workington, Carlisle, Copeland, Westmorland and Lonsdale, and Morecambe and Lunesdale, and parts of the parliamentary constituencies of Penrith and The Border, Durham, 586W North-West, Bishop Auckland, Sedgefield, Darlington, Richmond, Yorks, Skipton and Ripon, Keighley, Pendle, Ribble Valley, Iancaster and Wyre.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what geographical area, expressed(a) by county and (b) by parliamentary constituency, is covered by low flying area 18.
§ Mr. FreemanLow flying area 18 covers(a) the Isle of Wight and parts of the counties of Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex, Dorset, and Hampshire and (b) the parliamentary constituencies of Thanet, North, Thanet, South, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe, Ashford, Hastings and Rye, Bexhill and Battle, Eastbourne, Lewes, Brighton, Kemptown, Brighton, Pavilion, Hove, Shoreharn, Worthing, Arundel, Isle of Wight, Bournemouth, West, Bournemouth, East, Christchurch, Southampton, Test, Southampton, Itchen, Eastleigh, Gosport, Portsmouth, South, Portsmouth, North and Havant and parts of the parliamentary constituencies of Faversham, Mid-Kent, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Wealden, Mid-Sussex, Crawley, Horsham, Chichester, Hampshire, East, Fareham, Winchester, Romsey and Waterside, New Forest, Dorset, North and Poole.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the: Secretary of State for Defence what geographical area, expressed(a) by county or region and (b) by parliamentary constituency, is covered by low flying area 15.
§ Mr. FreemanThere is currently no low flying area 15 in the United Kingdom low flying system.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what geographical area, expressed(a) by county or region and (b) by parliamentary constituency is covered by low flying area 13.
§ Mr. FreemanLow flying area 13 covers(a) parts of the counties of Borders, Cumbria, Dumfries and Galloway, Durham and Northumberland and (b) parts of the parliamentary consitituencies of Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Hexham, Durham, North-West, Penrith and The Border, and Dumfries.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what geographical area, expressed(a) by county and (b) by parliamentary constituency, is covered by low flying area 9.
§ Mr. FreemanLow flying area 9 covers(a) part of the counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire and (b) parts of the parliamentary constituencies of Shropshire, North, Wrexham, Stafford, The Wrekin, Ludlow, Shrewsbury and Atcham, and Montgomery.
§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the number and dates of accidents since 1979 involving aircraft training in the United Kingdom low-flying system;
(2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that no aircraft or aircrew of any foreign country will be allowed to train in the extended United Kingdom low-flying system area announced on 9 June.
§ Mr. FreemanI will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
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Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what increase is planned in the number of night low-level training sorties over the United Kingdom as a result of the operational deployment of the Royal Air Force's thermal imaging and laser designator pod.
§ Mr. Freeman[holding answer 5 May 1988]: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the requirement for an advanced airborne laser designating pod. No decision has yet been made regarding the purchase of such a system which, if procured, is unlikely to be in service before the end of the decade, when it would be only one of a number of electro-optical devices. As such, its introduction would be unlikely to have a significant effect on the night flying requirement.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the minimum permitted height for fixed-wing military aircraft operating in the Otterburn danger areas, D512 and D512A;
(2) what is the minimum permitted height for fixed-wing military aircraft operating in the Spadeadam danger areas, D510;
(3) what is the minimum permitted height for fixed-wing military aircraft operating in the Garelochhead danger areas, D601;
(4) what is the minimum permitted height for fixed-wing military aircraft operating over the landward portion of the danger area known as D119;
(5) what is the minimum permitted height for fixed-wing military aircraft operating over the landward portion of the South Uist danger area, D 701;
(6) what is the minimum permitted height for fixed-wing military aircraft operating over the landward portion of the Lydd danger area, D 044;
(7) what is the minimum permitted height for fixed-wing military aircraft operating over the landward portion of the Eastney danger area, D 035;
(8) what is the minimum permitted height for fixed-wing military aircraft operating over the landward portion of the Bhzhearty danger area, D 708;
(9) what is the minimum permitted height for fixed-wing military aircraft operating over the landward portion of the Loch Ryan danger area, D 402;
(10) what is the minimum permitted height for fixed-wing military aircraft operating in the Porton danger area, D 127;
(11) what is the minimum permitted height for fixed-wing military aircraft operating in (a) the Warcop danger area, D 407, (b) the Catterick danger areas, D 408A, D 409A and D 409B, (c) the Stanford danger area, D 208, (d) the Ferrybridge danger area, D 203, (e) the Pontrilas danger area, D 147, (f) the Pembrey danger area, D 118, (g) the landward portion of the Cowden danger area, D 307, (h) the landward portion of the Donna Nook danger area, D 307, (i) the landward portion of the Wainfleet danger area, D 306, (j) the landward portion of the Holbeach danger area, D 207, and (k) the Dartmoor danger area, D 011;
(12) what is the minimum permitted height for fixed-wing military aircraft operating over the landward portion of the Luce bay danger area, D 403.
§ Mr. FreemanThe permitted height for fixed-wing military aircraft operating over ranges and danger areas varies according to the aircraft involved, the training being undertaken, the prevailing climatic conditions and588W whether activity is by day or by night. In general, aircraft may transit such areas at 250 ft minimum separation distance (msd) when a range or danger area has not been activated or, where it has been activated, with the prior approval of the danger area co-ordinating authority. Over certain ranges, service aircraft may descent to 100 ft msd during their final approach to target. Royal Air Force Harriers may descend to 85 ft msd. In exceptional circumstances and where specifically authorised, certain Royal Navy aircraft operating in danger areas and ranges may descent to 50 ft msd. Aircraft conducting trials under Procurement Executive auspices do so to meet trial aims; in each case the minimum permitted height is determined by safety considerations.