HC Deb 03 February 1994 vol 236 cc898-9W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the current issue of the Royal Air Force publication "Low Flying Update".

Mr. Hanley

The document is classified and cannot therefore be released.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reports have been received from aircrew on operational low flying training sorties in the tactical training areas, of sightings of other military aircraft on non-operational low flying training sorties flying at less than 500 ft minimum separation distance.

Mr. Hanley

Central records of such reports are not maintained. However, the indications are that such reports have been received on only a very small number of occasions.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify the nature of each of the breaches of low flying regulations listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley of 18 October 1993,Official Report, column 57, and the height at which each aircraft was recorded as flying.

Mr. Hanley

All of the apparent breaches of low flying regulations listed in my answer to the hon. Member of 18 October 1993,Official Report, column 57, were in respect of height, except for the following which were apparent breaches of an avoidance:

Date Location Type of aircraft Nationality
16 July 1991 Eshott Airfield F4 German Air Force
2 July 1992 Beverly/Linley Hill Aerodrome Tornado RAF

It is not my Department's policy to release detailed information such as the recorded height of aircraft involved in apparent breaches of low flying regulations.

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