§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many overland training flights down to 100ft above ground level were conducted by the aircrew involved in the radar tracking trials using DA20 aircraft from West Freugh on 14 December 1994, prior to carrying out the trials flying; what was the location of the training flights; and what was the involvement of the Royal Air Force instructors in the training;
(2) how many flights below 250ft above ground level were conducted by DA20 aircraft on radar trials from West Freugh during December; and what was the minimum authorised altitude for these flights.
§ Mr. SoamesOnly one sortie below 250ft above ground level was flown by this aircraft, on 19 December; this involved a number of passes over the airfield at West Freugh. No sorties were flown below 250ft above ground level on other dates in December, nor were Royal Air Force instructors involved. The aircraft was operating under civil aviation regulations, and was authorised to fly down to a minimum authorised altitude of 100ft above ground level by the Civil Aviation Authority.