§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents have occurred in each year since 1990 of private pilots intruding into the range area at Aberporth Airfield while the range was active and being used on behalf of the MOD. [102825]
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§ Dr. MoonieThe following table sets out the number of incidents that have occurred since 1990 of private pilots intruding into the Aberporth Range danger area while the range was active and being used for Ministry of Defence trials.
Year Number of incidents 1990 3 1991 1 1992 5 1993 3 1994 5 1995 8 1996 5 1997 1 1998 5 1999 2 2000 5 2001 5 2002 3 Appropriate safety measures were put into action and worked satisfactorily in each case.
§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safety measures are in place at Aberporth Airfield to ensure that private pilots do not intrude on the range area while it is being used on behalf of the MOD; and if he will make a statement. [102826]
§ Dr. MoonieAll trials at Aberporth Range are carried out under radar surveillance from fully qualified air traffic controllers. In the event of an infringement which could potentially compromise safety, the trial would be stopped until the incident was resolved. Any such infringements are reported to the regulatory authority for review. In addition, there are arrangements, agreed between the Aberporth Range and the nearby West Wales Airport, which set out the procedures to be used by both parties concerning operations at and around the range.