There was a further example of the dangers posed by low flying military aircraft when a child was thrown from a horse and injured after it was startled by a military helicopter on exercise in Leicestershire last month.

There have been a number of incidents in which horse riders have been killed or injured over the years and concern over the issue following a fatality some years ago culminated in an enquiry by the MOD in conjunction with equestrian groups. However the result of this 'consultation and enquiry' has been ineffectual only resulting in the release of a leaflet and an increase (in some low fly zones) of the minimum altitude to 100'.

The fact that the MOD is insincere about tackling the danger and nuisance caused is evidenced by the fact that despite over 100,000 complaints about low-flying over a twenty year period no disciplinary action has been taken against aircrew. The RAF and the MOD are however quite obviously ashamed of their record because they have now deleted the pdf file containing the report into 'horse riders and low flying' from their web pages (see dead-link in Celtic League News Report 1793 below).

To compound the problem most fixed wing and rotary aircraft now in service are well past their sell-by date. Helicopters such as the Puma and Chinook require an extraordinary ratio of maintenance to flying hours to remain airworthy. Some fixed wings types such as the Hawk trainer have been the subject of safety upgrade recommendations which the MOD have not actioned. In addition problems are compounded by personnel shortages effecting both air and ground crews.

The main areas effected by low flying exercises for sustained periods are the Celtic countries particularly, the Highlands, SW Scotland and mid Wales. A series of exercises in Wales and Scotland are scheduled for November. More incidents seem unavoidable as a lethal cocktail of operationally stretched aircrew, obsolescent aircraft and extremely low altitudes come together.

Related articles on Celtic News at:

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Detail of LFA16 on MoD low flying web pages here:

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Flying/LFAs/LowFlyingArea16.htm J B Moffatt Director of Information

Celtic League 29/10/08

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