HC Deb 27 May 1988 vol 134 cc390-1W
Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum authorised separation distance between military helicopters and civilian vehicles travelling on public roads; and what are the legislative provisions governing the proximity of military aircraft to civilian road traffic.

Mr. Freeman

Low-flying military helicopters are instructed to maintain a minimum height of 50 ft from the ground or 32.8 ft (10m) minimum separation distance from any upstanding object when flying. They may however be authorised to hover at levels down to a minumum separation distance of 9.8 ft (3m). There are no legislative provisions governing the proximity of military aircraft to civilian road traffic.

Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military helicopter units which were exercising in the Dalmally-Tyndrum area of Argyll on 5 May.

Mr. Freeman

According to available records the only military helicopter authorised to fly at low level in Scotland on 5 May was a naval Lynx operating from HMS Minerva.

Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the incident involving a military helicopter and a civilian car on the A85 road between Dalmally and Tyndrum on 5 May.

Mr. Freeman

Following notification of the incident by Strathclyde civil police on 7 May, a full investigation was commissioned to establish whether a military helicopter was involved and if so, what the circumstances were.