§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of Phantom jets jettisoning more than 1,000 litres of fuel while airborne have been reported in each year since 1980.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe number of reported incidents of RAF Phantom jets jettisoning fuel while airborne is as follows:
Number 1980 12 1981 30 1982 46 1983 52 1984 35 1985 14 1986 5 1987 16 1988 22 1989 15 1990 11 1991 4 No records are kept of the amount of fuel jettisoned.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance is given to Royal Air Force and. Royal Navy pilots about jettisoning large quantities of fuel while airborne over(a) the sea, (b) rural areas and (c) built-up areas.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonIt is normal practice for aircrew to jettison fuel only if, in an emergency, it is essential to reduce the aircraft weight before landing and the option of remaining airborne in order to burn fuel is not possible.
In the United Kingdom, RAF and RN pilots are directed that, where possible, fuel is not to be jettisoned at a height lower than 1,500 ft. The aircraft must also be under air traffic control and, where possible, over the sea. Otherwise a sparsely populated area should be chosen.
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§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the environmental consequences of aviation fuel being jettisoned by airborne military aircraft.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonRN and RAF pilots are instructed to jettison fuel under carefully controlled conditions which ensure that the great majority of fuel evaporates before it reaches the ground. There is, therefore, minimal environmental impact at ground or sea level.
The evaporated fuel is widely dispersed. Most of it is biodegradable and that which remains has no known effects on the atmosphere. There are no products in military aviation jet fuel known to cause greenhouse effects, damage to the ozone layer or air pollution in the lower atmosphere.