§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours of low-flying operations were carried out over the United Kingdom, West Germany and other countries in each of the last five years; how many hours have been carried out over the Falklands during the same period; how many accidents have occurred during those exercises, leading to how many fatalities; and what plans there are to increase flights over the United Kingdom and the Falklands as a means of reducing flights over Germany.
§ Mr. Freeman[holding answer 24 May 1988] Low flying activity is mainly recorded by sorties (which on average last 42 minutes) rather than by hours. The numbers of low-level training sorties flown by British 711W military aircraft(both fixed wing and helicopter) over the United Kingdom in each of the last five years were as follows:
Year Sorties 1983 118,920 1984 109,244 1985 115,063 1986 123,488 1987 123,293 Figures for low-flying training sorties carried out in the Federal Republic of Germany are not available prior to 1984. Those for 1984 onwards are as follows, but are not directly comparable with the above because they do not include helicopter sorties which, in Germany, are not centrally recorded.
Year Sorties 1984 18,752 1985 18,124 1986 16,853 1987 15,900 Central records of low-flying sortie numbers in other countries are not kept.
During the five years in question there have been 51 major accidents involving Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force aircraft operating at low level in which 53 military personnel have been killed
Most low-flying activity by United Kingdom military aircraft takes place in the United Kingdom, although RAF aircraft based in the Federal Republic of Germany do a significant amount of training there. Low-flying training also takes place in the USA and Canada, where the majority of ultra low flying is carried out, and in other NATO countries. The distribution of low-flying training is carefully balanced according to training needs, costs and other practical considerations. There are no current plans to alter this balance.