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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what risk assessment he has carried out or has received from the RAF of flights over the North Cotswolds to the North East of Staverton Airport in Gloucestershire; what information he has received from the RAF regarding the precautions they are taking to avoid mid-air collisions in that air space; what information the RAF supplies about its flights to the authorities at Staverton Airport; what minimum height above ground level is permitted for (a) RAF fighters, (b) Hercules transport planes and (c) Chinook helicopters; and if he will make a statement. [71194] Mr. Doug Henderson: Safety in the air is a key priority in all military flying activities. No specific risk assessments have been carried out in the area north-east of Staverton Airport but my Department has carried out a detailed study into the effectiveness of `see and avoid', the primary means of collision avoidance in open airspace. The results of this study were published on 2 February 1998, Official Report, column 469, and copies of the report placed in the Library of the House. There is no requirement for the authorities at Staverton Airport to receive information about military low-flying sorties outside their aerodrome traffic zone; military aircraft wishing to pass through the zone must, however, seek permission from Staverton Airport Air Traffic Control before doing so. The minimum separation distance for RAF fighters and Hercules aircraft between themselves and the ground, any structure or any other aircraft except those in the same formation is 250 ft. Chinooks are permitted to fly down to ground level.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

325 c610-1W;325 c612-3W; 71194

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Aviation Air force Military aircraft Safety Chinook helicopters Cotswold Hills Air misses Hercules aircraft Staverton

Contains statistics

Yes