HC Deb 07 May 1993 vol 224 cc253-4W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the weather minima for low-flying training below 250 ft in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The weather minima for all military low flying training in the United Kingdom low flying system are as follows:

  1. (a) All aircraft flying in the system faster than 140 kts must maintain 5 km visibility, 1500 m horizontal and 500 ft vertical separation from cloud.
  2. (b) Aircraft, other than helicopters, flying at 140 kts or slower must maintain either 5 km visibility, 1500 m horizontal and 500 ft vertical separation from cloud or 2 km visibility, clear of cloud and in sight of the surface.
  3. (c) Helicopters flying at 140 kts or slower must maintain either 5 km visibility, 1500 m horizontal and 500 ft vertical separation from cloud or keep clear of cloud and keep in sight of the surface.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many movements into low-flying areas at less than 250 ft above ground level were authorised in each year since 1987.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The number of movements authorised for flying below 250 ft in the three United Kingdom tactical areas each year since 1987 are as follows:

Year Number
1987 1,386
1988 2,115
1989 2,694
1990 6,027
1991 1,814
1992 3,220

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the military low level training sorties flown over the United Kingdom in each year since 1987 included authorisation to fly at(a) 200 ft above ground and (b) 100 ft above ground level.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Figures for low-flying sorties that have been flown below 250 ft are not available. The proportion of low-flying training movements authorised for flying below 250 ft, for each year since 1987, is given in the table. Such flights may be authorised down to a minimum level of 100 ft but records do not distinguish between levels within the 250 ft to 100 ft band.

Year Per cent.
1987 0.43
1988 0.69
1989 0.88
1990 1.92
Year Per cent.
1991 0.72
1992 1.15

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force fast jet pilots are currently qualified to fly at 100 ft above ground level.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The information is not available.

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