§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of booked low flying hours in the United Kingdom low flying system in 1993.
§ Mr. HanleyThe total number of hours booked at low level in the United Kingdom low flying system in 1993 was 107,220. This figure does not include the hours booked in the recently created low flying area 10 as this information is not yet available.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the southerly directional flow control for low flying aircraft was introduced between Penrhyndeudraeth and Trawsfynydd.
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§ Mr. HanleyThe flow control was introduced on 10 August 1992.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying sorties were undertaken in the United Kingdom low flying system in the years 1989, 1990 and 1993, calculated on the pre-1985 basis of estimating sorties from numbers of movements.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information requested is as follows:
Year The approximate number of sorties using the pre-1985 method 1989 121,088 1990 125,210 1993 1105,189 1 This figure does not take account of movements flown within LFA 10 as this information is not yet available. In addition, I regret that the answer given to the hon. Member on 2 April 1993 at column 505 did not take account of the number of night movements flown in 1991 and 1992. Revised figures for the approximate number of sorties flown using the pre-1985 method in 1991 and 1992 are as follows:
- 1991–102,460
- 1992–115,573
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying movements were recorded over Wales in 1993.
§ Mr. HanleyIt is not our practice to publish detailed information on activity in individual low flying areas.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations and dates of currently planned presentations by the Ministry of Defence low flying presentation team.
§ Mr. HanleyPresentations by the Ministry of Defence low flying presentation team are currently planned to take place on Thursday 24 February at Barnard Castle, County Durham and on Monday 28 February at Llandrindod Wells, Powys.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the impact of the concentration of RAF fast jet advanced flying training at RAF Valley on the amount of low flying in north Wales; and what research was carried out by his Department, prior to the decision to concentrate training at Valley, on(a) the effects on air traffic density and air safety and (b) the noise disturbance.
§ Mr. HanleyAlthough every effort will be made to spread low flying sorties throughout the United Kingdom flying system, it is inevitable that with the concentration of fast jet advanced flying training at RAF Valley more use will be made of the airspace over north and mid Wales.
Revision of procedures for the management of the local airspace will ensure that the effect of this increased air traffic is minimised and that air safety is not compromised.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints about low flying were received by his Department from addresses in(a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland in each months since March 1993.
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§ Mr. HanleyThe numbers of inquiries or complaints relating to military low flying training which my Department received during the period April 1993 to January 1994 from addresses in England, Wales and Scotland were as follows:
Month England Wales Scotland 1993 April 263 30 84 May 404 54 118 June 541 53 105 July 666 83 92 August 566 70 108 September 403 70 70 October 259 35 94 November 164 29 73 December 193 34 49 1994 January 237 27 31