§ 19. Mr. MossTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new measures the Government are taking to improve the safety margins for low-flying aircraft.
§ Mr. FreemanEvery aspect of the safety of low-flying is under continuous review and changes are made whenever necessary. As I announced in the House on 20 October, the most recent change concerned the introduction of the new procedures in the night low-flying system, aimed at separating rotary and fixed-wing flying as much as practicable, and improving deconfliction throughout the system.
§ 56. Mr. AmosTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on low-flying sorties over the Hexham area.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Hexham area, like most non-urban parts of the United Kingdom, is used by military aircraft undertaking essential low-flying training. The Government will continue to do all within their power to minimise the disturbance caused by low-flying training and to spread this activity as widely and fairly as possible throughout the country.