§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the regulations governing the conduct of practice interceptions by aircraft carrying live air-to-air missiles.
§ Mr. HanleyThe regulations are: prior to a specific alert state, only designated United Kingdom quick reaction alert—(Interceptor) QRA(I)—aircraft, with a properly constituted crew may carry out interceptions with an aircraft armed with missiles or gun and missiles. During QRA(I) scrambles, a live armed QRA(I) aircraft may intercept its designated target provided the aircraft captain ensures that
Airways traffic is avoidedThe firing trigger is not operatedThe sighting system aiming point is not placed on the target Before closing below 10 nautical miles with the target aircraft, the fighter pilot is to confirm with the intercept controller that the "armament safety check is complete.The only exception to this regulation is training undertaken by air defence aircraft in the Falkland Islands where practice interceptions with armed aircraft are permitted but against other military aircraft only.