§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if pilots are permitted to exceed the normal maximum cruising speed in the United Kingdom low-flying system in order to regain their planned timing on low-flying sorties.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleYes, although this should seldom be necessary since sorties are generally planned at speeds below the normal maximum cruising speed.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what minimum height the Belgian Air Force aircraft which paid an exchange visit to RAF Wattisham during October were permitted to fly over the United Kingdom.
108W
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleTwo hundred and fifty feet.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of the low-flying exercise centred on the Spadeadam range, scheduled to take place on 1 November; what types of aircraft and which units were involved; and how many sorties took place.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe exercise centred on the Spadeadam range on 1 November was designed to enable United States Air Force aircraft based in the United Kingdom and continental Europe to undertake electronic warfare training together. Such exercises regularly take place at various bases in Europe.
The types of aircraft involved and their units were: A10s from 10th and 81st Tactical Fighter Wings (TFW); F-111s from 48th TFW; F-4Gs and F-16s from 52nd TFW; F-15s from 36th TFW; EF-111 s from 42nd ECS (Electronic Combat Squadron); and EC-130s from 43rd ECS; 38 sorties were flown.
No general use of the United Kingdom low-flying system was authorised for non-UK based aircraft.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there have been any instances since 1979 in which a request from an hon. Member for low flying avoidance status to be applied to a location in his or her constituency has been granted.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleYes.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if pilots are permitted to book into low-flying areas in which the actual or forecast cloudbase or visibility do not meet the minima laid down for visual low flying.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleYes. Authorising officers and air crew are, however, responsible for ensuring that any proposed sortie can be safely carried out in the light of the prevailing weather conditions and in accordance with low-flying regulations.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what cuts in Royal Air Force fast jet flying hours have been applied as a result of the defence spending economies announced on 31 July.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThere have been no cuts in flying hours as a result of these measures.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the purpose of the fast jet low-flying activity scheduled to take place on 2 September in northern England; what types of aircraft and which units were involved; how many sorties took place on each day; and if the Spadeadam range was specially activated for this activity;
(2) what was the purpose of the fast jet low-flying activity scheduled took take place on bank holiday Monday, 27 August, in northern England and Scotland.; what types of aircraft and which units were involved; how many sorties took place on each day; and if the Spadeadam range was specially activated for this activity.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleLow-flying training in northern England and Scotland was exceptionally authorised on bank holiday Monday 27 August and on Sunday 2 September for air crew undertaking training connected with our current commitment in the Gulf. In the event, no such flying took place on either date.
109W
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what way the southern boundary of low flying area 13 has been altered since July; and what was the purpose of the alteration.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe southern boundary of LFA 13 has been adjusted northwards to remove an area not required for the operation of the RAF Spadeadam range.