Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru) on Wednesday, 14 December 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 December 2022 (named day). It was answered by Alex Chalk (Conservative) on Monday, 19 December 2022 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

RAF Valley: Noise

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of levels of noise pollution from Texan training planes flying over Arfon; and what recent steps he has taken to reduce noise disruption.

Answer

The Texan aircraft complies fully with relevant international aviation noise standards.

Arfon lies fully under the North Wales Military Training Area which provides valuable and regularly used training airspace for RAF Valley and other military aerodromes. This training area offers specific advantages in terms of scale, terrain and deconfliction from other airspace users that meet many essential training requirements for the RAF and the Texan fleet.

However, the Station plans the use of this airspace carefully, and works closely with the Texan Squadron to distribute training as equitably and fairly as possible. A significant proportion of Texan flying is undertaken in other areas, where these provide suitable conditions to meet essential training objectives, including overwater areas in order to minimise disturbance to local communities and ease the congestion within the North Wales Military Training Area.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
110598
Session
2022-23
Related items
RAF Valley: Noise
Thursday, 18 May 2023
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Noise Military aircraft RAF Valley
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk