§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of low-flying sorties over the United Kingdom by each type of aircraft in each month since May 1992.
§ Mr. HanleyThe numbers of low-flying sorties by aircraft type carried out in the United Kingdom for the period May 1992 to June 1993, the most recent month for which figures are available, are as follows:
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Aircraft type May June July August September October November December Total Other aircraft (including helicopters) 4,512 4,853 4,671 3,695 5,579 3,377 4,180 2,446 33,329 Monthly total sorties 12,276 12,105 13,105 10,003 11,291 11,058 9,684 5,872 85,394
Number of Aircraft Sorties by type January 1993 to June 1993 Aircraft type January February March April May June Total Buccaneer 105 165 198 129 56 166 819 Harrier 591 750 1,114 255 533 649 3,892 Hawk 954 1,399 1,364 916 1,862 1,467 7,962 Jaguar 458 458 653 609 328 469 2,975 Jet Provost 356 347 458 381 320 183 2,045 Tornado 1,850 1,748 2,169 1,458 1,674 2,192 11,091 Tucano 430 428 714 508 625 876 3,581 A10 155 46 0 0 0 0 201 F15 206 280 349 286 263 367 1,751 F1ll 283 338 332 342 294 321 1,910 Other aircraft (including helicopters) 2,744 4,162 5,658 3,755 4,639 5,140 26,098 Monthly total sorties 8,132 10,121 13,009 8,639 10,594 11,830 62,325
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current and projected requirements for night low-flying training by Harrier GR7 aircraft, in terms of numbers of sorties per year; in what months of the year this training will take place; what proportion of this training will take place(a) in Germany, (b) in the United Kingdom and (c) from Goose Bay, Canada; and if he will list the other countries where this training will take place with the proportion in each case.
§ Mr. HanleyNight low-flying is usually conducted between September and April. It is estimated that the Harrier night flight will conduct around 500 night low-flying sorties in 1993–94. The figure is expected to rise to some 750 sorties by the end of the 1995–96 night low-flying season as further squadrons commence training. In 1993–94 it is planned that some 77 per cent. of Harrier GR7 night flying will be conducted in the United Kingdom night low-flying system, and some 16 per cent. in the United States of America and some 7 per cent. in Norway. At present, the Harrier GR7 does not conduct night low-flying training in Germany or Goose Bay.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are taken to ensure that fixed low-flying routes in the United Kingdom low-flying system in use by different units do not follow similar routes or use the same turning points.
§ Mr. HanleyNo specific measures are required as the only fixed low-flying routes flown in the United Kingdom are the small number needed for training units to ensure common training standards. These routes are used as little as possible and replaced at regular intervals in accordance with low-flying regulations.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what monitoring is undertaken of the frequency of use, and frequency of alteration or amendment, of fixed low-flying routes in the United Kingdom which are in use by(a) Royal Air Force units and (b) United States air force units.
§ Mr. HanleyFixed low-flying routes are not flown by Royal Air Force operational squadrons as aircrew are required to plan their sorties individually. A small number52W of fixed low-level routes are however, needed for training units to ensure common training standards. These routes are monitored locally as a normal low-flying management function; they are varied as much as possible and are in any case replaced at regular intervals. United States air force units do not fly fixed routes in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints have been received by each of the Royal Air Force community relations officers responsible for low-flying complaints in each year since their establishment; and what proportion of these complaints have been referred to the Secretariat (Air Staff) in London.
§ Mr. HanleyRegional community relations officers (RCRO) for Cumbria and the Borders were established in January 1992 and for Wales in August 1993. RCRO Wales received four complaints during that month, three of which were referred to the Secretariat (Air Staff) for further action.
RCRO Cumbria RCRO Borders 1992 11993 1992 11993 Number of complaints received 478 342 281 266 Number of complaints referred to the Secretariat (Air Staff) for further action 154 230 101 177 1 To the end of August 1993, the latest month for which figures are available.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the required horizontal avoidance distances by military fast jet aircraft of(a) helicopter lifting operations, (b) helicopter crop spraying operations, (c) fixed-wing crop spraying operations and (d) aerial photo survey work, which have been notified under the civil aircraft notification procedure.
§ Mr. HanleyCivil pilots notifying these types of low-level aerial activity under the civil aircraft notification procedure must specify the location *and horizontal dimensions of the area in which they will be operating together with the maximum height of their activities. The horizontal dimensions of the temporary avoidance area notified to pilots of military fixed wing aircraft flying in excess of 140 knots coincide with those specified by the civil pilot.
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§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current minimum altitude flown by United States air force(a) F15E and (b) F111 aircraft in the Highlands restricted area (i) during automatic terrain-following radar flights in instrument meteorological conditions and (ii) during automatic terrain-following radar flights at night.
§ Mr. HanleyThe minimum altitude flown by the F111 in the Highlands restricted area (HRA) at all times is 1,000 ft. The F15E has not flown in the HRA.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what types of aircraft are currently permitted to use the Highlands restricted area for night or instrument low-flying training.
§ Mr. HanleyAircraft fitted with a terrain-following radar suite may be permitted to fly in the Highlands restricted area (HRA). Aircraft that currently use the HRA are Tornado GR1 and USAF F111 and C130s.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of low-flying sorties carried out over the United Kingdom by(a) Dominie aircraft, (b) Hercules aircraft and (c) all types of helicopter in each year since 1985.
§ Mr. HanleyThe number of low-flying sorties carried out in the United Kingdom by Hercules aircraft and helicopters in each year since 1985 is as follows:
Date Location Type Circumstances 26 November 1990 Scotland RAF Tornado Wirestrike 1 February 1991 Northern Ireland RAF Wessex Wirestrike 18 February 1991 Norway AAC Lynx Blades struck power cables 25 May 1991 Northern Ireland RAF Puma Wirestrike 28 June 1991 Northern Ireland RAF Puma Possible wirestrike 9 January 1992 Middle Wallop AAC Gazelle Tail struck ground during hover 25 March 1992 Germany AAC Gazelle Rotor struck tree foliage while low-flying 1 June 1992 Germany AAC Lynx Tail rotor blades contacted tree foliage 1 July 1992 7nm SE of Flambrough Head RAF Sea King Winch cable struck yacht boom 8 August 1992 Salisbury Plain AAC Gazelle Hover blades struck tree branches 21 October 1992 Germany AAC Gazelle While low-flying, blades struck power cables 13 November 1992 Netheravon AAC Gazelle Hit ground 8 March 1993 Canada AAC Gazelle Strong crosswind caused tail flange to hit ground 16 March 1993 Germany AAC Gazelle Hover blades struck tree branches 31 March 1993 Germany AAC Gazelle Forward aerials struck ground during hover 7 May 1993 Salisbury Plain AAC Gazelle Tail flange struck ground in deceleration 24 May 1993 Norfolk AAC Lynx While hovering near trees, recirculation encountered. No indication of blade strike although blade tips found damaged on landing 21 June 1993 Germany AAC Gazelle Blades struck tree branches Note: Records of Royal Navy aircraft incidents are not held and therefore the list only covers Royal Air Force and the Army Air Corps.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sorties are required to maintain the currency of night low-flying qualifications for Tornado GR1 and GR1A aircrew.
§ Mr. HanleyTo maintain currency of night low-flying qualifications Tornado GR1 and GR1A aircrew are required to fly a minimum of eight night low-flying sorties per year.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the minimum requirements in terms of(a) number of flying hours experience on the aircraft type concerned, (b) number of flying hours experience on fast jet aircraft as a whole, (c) length of service and (d) current
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Hercules Helicopters 1985 3,501 35,345 1986 2,724 38,847 1987 3,106 40,457 1988 2,787 44,608 1989 3,105 40,353 1990 2,052 38,844 1991 1,733 37,750 1992 2,357 41,859 Central records are not kept separately of the number of low-flying sorties carried out by Dominie aircraft.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) new simulated targets have been added to and (b) existing simulated targets have been withdrawn from, the Strike command list of simulated targets for dive or toss attack, since 1990.
§ Mr. HanleyA list of changes is not held. Once a new list is issued, approximately every six months, the old one is destroyed.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates, locations, type of aircraft and circumstances of all incidents since November 1990 in which military aircraft have made unintentional contact with the ground or with ground features such as trees or power lines.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information requested is as follows:
minimum altitude qualifications, for Royal Air Force aircrew to commence training at 100 ft minimum separation distance on (i) the Harrier, (ii) the Jaguar and (iii) the Tornado; and what changes have been made to these requirements since 1979.
§ Mr HanleyThe minimum number of flying hours experience required on fast jet aircraft before RAF aircrew can commence training below 250 ft down to a height of 100 ft minimum separation distance on Harrier, Jaguar and Tornado aircraft is 300 hours of which 250 hours must have been conducted on the aircraft type concerned. In 1979 the minimum requirement was 275 hours on fast jet of which 200 hours had to be flown on the aircraft type concerned. Aircrew must be qualified to fly at 250 ft 55W minimum separation distance before they commence training below that height. The criteria for personnel engaged on flying below 250 ft do not include a qualifying length of service.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on the night low-flying activity survey carried out in the north east of England in 1990.
§ Mr. HanleyMy Department is unaware of any such survey and report.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current minimum altitude flown by Royal Air Force Tornados in the Highlands restricted area(a) during automatic terrain-following radar flights in instrument meteorological conditions and (b) during automatic terrain-following radar flights at night.
§ Mr. HanleyFive hundred feet in both cases.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many night low-flying sorties were carried out over the United Kingdom by USAF F15E aircraft in 1992; and what changes in this activity are projected for 1993 and 1994.
§ Mr. HanleyFigures for night low-flying sorties by aircraft type are not available. Figures are, however, held for the number of night low-flying movements conducted by aircraft type over the United Kingdom. During 1992 the USAF F15E aircraft, which commenced night low-flying in October of that year, carried out 252 night low-level movements. It is estimated that in 1993 the F15E will conduct around 1,900 night low-level movements. The USAF requirement for night low-flying in 1994 has not yet been determined.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the addresses and telephone numbers of those Royal Air Force community relations officers whose principal role is to act as a local point of contact for complaints about low-flying.
§ Mr. HanleyThe addresses and telephone numbers of the RAF regional community relations officers, who act as a focal point for complaints about low-flying in areas remote from RAF stations, are as follows:
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- Ministry of Defence
- RAF Regional Community Relations Officer (Cumbria)
- Inglewood Road
- Penrith
- Cumbria
- CA11 8QN
- Telephone: 0768–891391
- Ministry of Defence
- RAF Regional Community Relations Officer (Borders)
- Tormore House
- Nithbank
- St Michael Street
- Dumfries
- Telephone: 0387–57512
- Ministry of Defence
- RAF Regional Community Relations Officer (Wales)
- New Dolanog House
- Severn Road
- Welshpool
- Powys
- SY21 7DA
- Telephone: 0938–556363
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the total number of low-flying movements recorded in the United Kingdom low-flying system in each year since 1989.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information requested is as follows:
Year Number of movements 1989 302,721 1990 313,026 1991 256,149 1992 288,933
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the minimum equipment requirements for aircraft carrying out night or instrument low-flying in the Highlands restricted area.
§ Mr. HanleyAircraft conducting manual terrain-following training in the Highlands restricted area must have a fully serviceable terrain-following radar suite which, as a minimum equipment requirement, includes a terrain-following radar, a radar altimeter and a position-fixing aid. For automatic terrain following, the suite must also include a coupled autopilot.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the dates, locations, and type and nationality of aircraft involved in each of the breaches of low-flying regulations detected by Skyguard radar during covert monitoring of the United Kingdom low-flying system since June 1989; and what disciplinary action was taken in respect of each incident.
§ Mr. HanleyDetails of the apparent breaches of low-flying regulations detected by Skyguard during covert monitoring of the United Kingdom low-flying system are as follows:
Date Location Type Aircraft Nationality 28 June 1989 Knaresborough Jaguar RAF 29 June 1989 Knaresborough Harrier RAF 29 June 1989 Knaresborough Tornado RAF 29 June 1989 Knaresborough Jaguar RAF 2 October 1990 East Leyton, Richmond Tornado RAF 16 July 1991 Eshott, Northumberland Airfield F4 German Air Force 16 July 1991 Eshott, Northumberland Airfield F4 German Air Force 16 July 1991 Eshott, Northumberland Airfield F4 German Air Force 2 July 1992 Beverly/Linley Hill Aerodrome Tornado RAF These apparent breaches of low-flying regulations were not the subject of court martial or summary disposal proceedings under the service discipline Acts. Any other action lies with the commanding officer of the RAF station concerned. It is not our policy to release details of action taken by commanding officers in such cases.
Breaches of low-flying regulations by non-United Kingdom-based foreign aircrew are notified to the air attaché of the country concerned for appropriate action.