HC Deb 13 July 1993 vol 228 cc464-5W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 October 1992,Official Report, column 159, if he is yet able to give an analysis of the noise generated by the F-15E aircraft at low level.

Mr. Hanley

For technical reasons, the F-15E aircraft involved in the trial last September were unable to achieve all of the planned runs over the test site and firm conclusions could not be drawn from the limited data produced. A further trial which was arranged earlier this year had to be abandoned due to adverse weather conditions but has been re-arranged for later this month.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the nature of the sortie, (b) the recorded height, (c) the recorded speed and (d) the home base of the military jet aircraft that overflew the village of Clayton, south Yorkshire on 30 June at approximately (i) 22:00 hours, (ii) 22:04 hours, (iii) 22:08 hours, (iv) 22:12 hours, (v) 22:15 hours, (vi) 22:19 hours, (vii) 22:23 hours (viii) 22:23 hours, (ix) 22:35 hours; and what notification was given to the pilots of the aircraft of two low-speed non-jet aircraft in the area between approximately 22:20 hours and 22:35 hours.

Mr. Hanley

A number of Tornado aircraft from RAF Cottesmore conducted routine low-level training in the area at about the times stated on 30 June. We have no reason to believe any of the military aircraft flew below the permitted height of 1,000 ft. No military non-jet aircraft were booked to low fly in the area at the time, and no notification was received under the civil aircraft notification procedure or by other means of any civil aircraft activity.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the limit on the number of aircraft permitted to operate simultaneously in low-flying area 17 includes any civil aircraft known to be operating in the area at less than 2,000 ft above sea level.

Mr. Hanley

The limit placed by the Ministry of Defence on the number of aircraft permitted to fly in low-flying area 17 at any one time applies only to military aircraft flying below 2,000 ft.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given by his Department to the printing of pipeline routes on military low-flying charts; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley

The national air traffic services have set in hand a review of the civil aircraft notification procedure—CANP. The review will include consideration of whether helicopters conducting pipe and power line inspections should be included in the CANP system and of the possibility of printing pipeline routes on military low-flying charts.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capacity the ALFENS system will have to provide warning to military pilots of pipeline and power line aerial survey activity.

Mr. Hanley

ALFENS will provide information to military pilots on civil air activity notified under the national air traffic services'—NATS—civil aircraft notification procedure—CANP. Pipe and power line aerial

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
Private 12 9 8 7 18
Lance Corporal 4 2 1 1 2
Corporal 1 1 0 4 2
Sergeant 2 0 2 1 1
Staff Sergeant 2 2 0 1 0
Warrant Officer II 1 0 2 0 0
Warrant Officer I 0 0 0 0 0
Subaltern 1 3 2 0 0
Captain 0 1 1 1 0
Major 0 1 1 0 0
Lieutenant Colonel 0 0 0 0 0
Colonel 0 0 0 0 0
Brigadier 0 0 0 0 0
General 0 0 0 0 0
All Ranks 23 19 17 15 23
Percentage of all Army exits 0.10 0.08 0.07 0.08 0.10