Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the specified radius in nautical miles of low-flying avoidance around towns and villages;
(2) what definition is used for major conurbations and built-up areas in the instructions to pilots concerning overflight of major conurbations and built-up areas in the United Kingdom low-flying system;
(3) if simulated attacks on moving civilian road traffic are permitted in the United Kingdom low-flying system;
(4) what are the regulations concerning simulated attacks on targets of opportunity in the United Kingdom low-flying system.
§ Mr. NeubertThe points raised are the subject of recommendations by the House of Commons Defence Committee whose report on low flying (HC 120) is currently being considered by the Government and to which a response will be made in the normal way.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list all the avoidance sites which have been disestablished in the tactical training areas since 1984;
(2) if he will list all the avoidance sites which have been newly established in the tactical training areas since 1984.
§ Mr. NeubertIt is not our practice to release detailed information on flying restrictions in individual areas.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if all users of the United low-flying system are required to plan and brief an exact route for their sortie before take-off; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what is the maximum permitted lateral deviation from planned route for aircrew attempting to maintain visual meteorological conditions in poor weather at low level.
§ Mr. NeubertComprehensive planning is required for all sorties in the United Kingdom low-flying system. The precision with which the actual route is planned will vary with the type and role of aircraft and with the nature of the low-flying exercise which is to be undertaken. Aircrew will take account of the possibility of adverse weather in their planning but no maximum permitted lateral deviation is laid down.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which types of aircraft's noise levels produced by NATO allied air forces which are common users of the United 643W Kingdom's low-flying system, will be included in the forthcoming noise survey to be conducted by his Department.
§ Mr. NeubertThe noise measurement trial conducted at the Royal Aerospace West Freugh range last month covered the following common users of the United Kingdom low-flying system: F-111, Hawk, Harrier GR5, Jaguar, Tornado and Tucano aircraft.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the nature, purpose and title of the low-flying exercise to be held in the vicinity of Swanton Morley, Norfolk, between 25 June and 20 July; how many and what types of aircraft are due to take part; what is the minimum altitude authorised for(a) helicopters and (b) fixed-wing aircraft participating in the exercise; and what notification has been given to the public of this exercise.
§ Mr. NeubertThere are no plans to hold a low-flying exercise in the vicinity of Swanton Morley over the period in question.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date that part of the London/Thames valley avoidance area encompassing Braintree, Witham and Heybridge, Essex, was abolished; what was the reason for its abolition; if he will list the parliamentary constituencies over which low flying is newly permitted, or within which the area available for low flying is extended, as a result of this measure; and what instructions are now issued to military pilots concerning low flying over(a) Witham (b) Braintree and (c) Heybridge.
§ Mr. NeubertI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 July 1989 at column1031.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum number of aircraft permitted to operate at low level at any one time in the hilly areas of Wales; if this restriction applies to the whole of low-flying area 7; and if he will list any changes made to this maximum number since 1979.
§ Mr. NeubertNo more than 30 aircraft, excluding helicopters, are permitted to book into low flying area 7 at any one time during the period 0700 to 1800 local time Monday to Friday. No changes have been made to this figure since its introduction in 1987.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints were received about military low flying over the national eisteddfod at Glyn Llifon agricultural college, Caernarfon, between 28 May and 2 June.
§ Mr. NeubertI am not aware of any such complaints.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has further to reduce the number and size of low-flying avoidance areas covering special rules airspace around civil airports; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeubertI refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 26 July 1989,Official Report, column 317.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the nature, purpose and title of the low-flying exercise held in the vicinity of the Llyn Brianne reservoir644W on 11, 12 and 13 June; how many and what types of aircraft took part; what was the minimum altitude authorised for (a) helicopters and (b) fixed-wing aircraft participating in the exercise; and what notification was given to the public of this exercise.
§ Mr. NeubertFighter evasion training involving one Hunter aircraft and two Lynx helicopters was conducted in the area of the Llyn Brianne reservoir over the period concerned within the normal minimum height constraints applicable in the United Kingdom low-flying system. No notification was given to the general public of this routine training activity.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flying sorties took place over the United Kingdom during this year's Exercise Central Enterprise.
§ Mr. NeubertNone.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date flow control for low-flying military aircraft in a southerly direction between the city of Hull and danger area D. G306 was first established;
(2) on what date flow control was first established in the United Kingdom low-flying system in a south-westerly direction (a) between RAF Marham and the Stanford practical training area and (b) in the vicinity of Harlesdon, Norfolk;
(3) on what date flow control was first established in the United Kingdom low flying system in a north-westerly direction in the vicinity of (a) Watton, Norfolk and (b) Diss, Norfolk;
(4) on what date flow control was first established in the United Kingdom low-flying System in a northerly direction between (a) Brancaster and Blakeney Point, Norfolk and (b) the city of Northampton and Sywell airfield;
(5) on what date flow control was first established in the United Kingdom low-flying System in a north-easterly direction between (a) RAF Cottesmore and RAF' Wittering, (b) King's Lynn and RAF Sculthorpe and (c) on the north side of the RAF Wattisham military air traffic zone;
(6) on what date flow control was first established in the United Kingdom low-flying system in (a) a southerly direction in the vicinity of Cromer, Norfolk, and (b) a westerly direction between Peterborough and RAF Alconbury;
(7) on what date the anti-clockwise flow control was first established around the town of Sculthorpe in the United Kingdom low-flying system;
(8) on what date flow control was first established in the United Kingdom low-flying system (a) between Harworth and Carlton-in-Lindrick, Nottinghamshire, and (b) in the vicinity of Ackworth, west Yorkshire.
§ Mr. NeubertUnidirectional traffic flows have been in use since before the introduction of the current low flying system in 1979 and I regret that the information requested could not be provided without disproportionate cost and effort.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are given to pilots concerning the minimum height and maximum speed to be flown over the Billing and Boothville suburbs of Northampton, when 645W flying through the channel in the United Kingdom low-flying system in a northerly direction between the city of Northampton and Sywell airfield.
§ Mr. NeubertAircraft flying in the area concerned are subject to the normal rules of the United Kingdom low flying system.