§ Mr. Kirk woodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what are the circumstances in which an aircrew would be entitled to fly at will for a period in a Shackleton or Shackleton-type aircraft during military exercises;
(2) which officers of which Air Force rank have the authority to instruct the crew of a Shackleton or Shackleton-type aircraft to fly at will on a course and height which had not been previously planned in the course of a military exercise;
(3) what is the recognised procedure for Shackleton or Shackleton-type aircraft in circumstances during military exercises where the aircraft are not needed for the purposes of the exercise for a short period in the middle of the timetable for the exercise; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleAppropriate RAF officers may authorise the aircrew of RAF aircraft such as the Shackleton to fly on a flight path and at a height of their own choosing during a military exercise, provided always that the aircrew can do so safely, and observe the rules of the air, including low-flying regulations where appropriate. RAF aircrew would be entitled to fly their aircraft in this way provided they had the appropriate authorisation, reported their intentions to any appropriate ground authorities, such as air traffic controllers, and flew safely and within the rules.
Because of their slow speed, when RAF Shackleton aircraft are on exercise at some distance from their home base, RAF Lossiemouth, it is normal practice for the aircraft to remain airborne during any short break in the exercise, rather than return to RAF Lossiemouth, Iand and take off again soon after. It is more cost-effective for 765W the aircrew to remain in the air to conduct continuation training, including practising some of their secondary roles, such as search and rescue.
§ Mr. Kirk woodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what are the circumstances in which a Shackleton or Shackleton-type aircraft can be authorised to engage in low flying below 1,000 ft during military exercises;
(2) whether there are any RAF plans to introduce low-flying training involving Shackleton or Shackleton-type aircraft; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleAppropriately trained and authorised RAF aircrew are already permitted to fly low (that is, below a height of 2,000 ft) in RAF Shackleton aircraft, provided always that they can do so safely, and observe the regulations governing low flying. If these conditions are met, there is no reason in principle why RAF Shackleton aircraft should not fly below 1,000 ft during military exercises.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish the board of inquiry report into the cause of the RAF Shackleton aircraft crash which occurred on the Isle of Harris in the Western Isles earlier this year; if he will list in theOfficial Report any changes in flying procedures for Shackletons or Shackleton-type aircraft which have been issued since the crash; what is the normal operational role of Shackleton or Shackleton-type aircraft in military exercises; and if it has changed in any way since the crash on the Isle of Harris.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonWe expect to publish the military aircraft accident summary concerning this tragic accident in the new year.
The primary operational role of RAF Shackleton aircraft in military exercises is to provide airborne early warning, but the aircraft may also be used in a secondary role of search and rescue, to drop smoke flares. There have been no changes in these roles since the accident. The RAF has not promulgated any specific changes in flying procedures for RAF Shackleton aircraft since the accident.