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Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : The accident to a German Air Force aircraft and the crew fatalities were listed at annex D of my predecessor's letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member. It was omitted inadvertently from table 4.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all the foreign military aircraft accidents listed in his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, occurred during low-level flights.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : No.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) fatalities, (b) serious injuries, (c) loss of aircraft, (d) serious damage to aircraft and (e) other damages to military or civilian property resulting from the accident of a Royal Air Force Hawk on 21 April 1983.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : While transitting over Fort Angustus as part of a formation, a Hawk aircraft struck power cables, suffering category 3 damage. The rear seat passenger ejected, suffering major injuries, but the pilot landed the aircraft safely. A second Hawk sustained very minor damage after hitting aerial debris caused by the ejection. The power cables required repair, costing £2,886.
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Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the Jaguar accident caused by disorientation at6,000 ft on 6 August 1981 was not included as a low-level flight accident.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : This aircraft had completed its low-level manoeuvre and climbed to 5,500 ft before the accident occurred. It would not, therefore, have been accurate to include it among accidents that had taken place during low-level flight.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is still his policy that all accidents to aircraft of the three services which have involved loss of or serious damage to aircraft or which have resulted in fatalities or serious injuries are to be listed in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates".
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : Yes.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which major injuries resulting from the Tornado/Jaguar collision on 12 July 1984 listed in table 5 of his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, are not included in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1985".
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : The major injury suffered by one member of the aircrew was omitted inadvertently from the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1985." The relevant information provided in my predecessor's letter of 16 August 1988, was correct.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether accidents which occurred following pull-up from low-level flights, caused by disorientation in cloud about 2,000 ft, are included in the statistics of low-level flight accidents.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : If the circumstances giving rise to an accident began to develop at or above 2,000 ft above the ground, following a successful pull-up from low level, then clearly such an accident would not be classified as having occurred during low-level flight.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to include in the statistics of low-level flight accidents those occurring during unauthorised low-level display flying.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : The Ministry of Defence maintains comprehensive accident records pertinent to flight safety. These records do not deal specifically with accidents occurring during low-level flying, since such information of itself is usually not considered directly relevant to flight safety. All questions from hon. Members about accidents during low-level flight are researched individually according to the information sought. Where appropriate, answers make it clear that information is included or excluded. In my predecessor's letter dated 23 March 1988 and 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member, copies of which were placed in the Library, it was stated that accidents during flying displays were not included in statistics relating to low-level flying exercises.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987" lists only two injuries resulting from the accident on 12 July
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1986, when the lists of deaths and major injuries to military personnel as result of low-level flying attached to his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, record three injuries for that same accident.Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : The three injuries resulting from the accident to a Gazelle on 12 July 1986 were included in table 5.4 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987"; one injury was excluded inadvertently from table 5.8. The relevant information provided in my predecessor's letter of 16 August 1988 was correct.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the two major injuries resulting from the Royal Navy accident of 7 December 1983 were omitted from the lists in table 9 of his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : Royal Navy accident records were not computerised until 1985. Details of accidents before that year can be obtained only by manual search of old accident and signal logs. The information referred to was contained in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1984" but omitted inadvertently from my predecessor's letter.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the "Statement on Defence Estimates 1983", records no major injuries when table 5 of his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, lists two Royal Navy other major injuries.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : If the hon. Member rereads volume 1 of the "Statement on Defence Estimates 1983", he will see on page 49 a reference to a Royal Navy Sea King accident in which two Royal Navy personnel suffered major injuries. This was the figure quoted in my predecessor's letter of 16 August 1988.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the accident to the Lightning, which occurred during unauthorised flying aerobatics on 26 June 1983, was not included in his statistics of low-level flight accidents.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : There is no record of such an accident on that date.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the date of the accident to a Royal Navy Wessex listed in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1984" as 7 December 1983 and in his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, as 1 December 1983.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : The correct date was 7 December 1983.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the accident to a Sea Harrier off Scotland on 15 October 1987 included in the lists provided in his letter of 16 August to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, but excluded from his lists in the letter of 23 March 1988 to the same hon. Member effectively took place.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : Yes.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the accident to a Royal Navy Sea King on 29 February 1984 was omitted from the lists in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1985" and included in the lists provided in his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan.
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Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : Only major accidents (categories 4 and 5) are set out in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates". This accident (category 3) was included in the list provided by my predecessor only in response to a specific question tabled by the hon. Member.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Jaguar aircraft which made an emergency landing at RAE Bedford in 1984 has flown since that accident ; what is its current status ; and which unit was assigned to carry out repairs on it.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : Whilst undertaking a low-flying sortie the pilot was forced to divert from his planned path by adverse weather. In gaining altitude though cloud, his aircraft struck Charwelton radio tower and subsequently landed at RAE Bedford. The damage to the aircraft was assessed as category 3. Subsequently, however, it was decided that the aircraft was beyond economic repair and the wings are now being used for tests at RAE Farnborough.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the accident to an Army Gazelle of 29 April 1986, as listed in his reply to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours), Official Report, column 449, 16 November 1987, was not included in the lists in his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : It was omitted inadvertently.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1983" lists only one injury resulting from the accident on 15 September 1982 when the lists of deaths and major injuries to military personnel as a result of low-level flying, attached to his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, records two injuries for that same accident.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : The two major injuries resulting from the accident on 15 September 1982 were included in table 6.6 volume 2 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1983", but one injury was omitted inadvertently from annex F, volume 1. The relevant information in my predecessor's letter of 16 August 1988 was correct.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988" lists four Royal Air Force fast jet major injuries in the Tornado crashes on 3 June and 27 July 1987 when the list in the table in his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, records only two such major injuries for 1987.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : My predecessor's letter of 16 August omitted inadvertently the major injuries sustained by the two aircrew of the RAF Tornado which crashed at Manby on 3 June 1987.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988" lists only two injuries for the accident on 18 March 1987 when the list of deaths and major injuries to military personnel as a result of low-level flying, attached to his letter to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, of 16 August 1988, records three injuries for that accident.
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Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : My predecessor's letter should have referred to only two major injuries resulting from this accident. The third casualty received only minor injuries.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the Royal Navy Sea King crash in Oman on 30 November 1986 was omitted from the lists in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987".
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : The "Statement on the Defence Estimates" includes only major (category 4 and 5) accidents. Damage from this accident was assessed as very minor.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the accident to a Sea King on 23 July 1987 included in the lists provided in his letter of 23 March 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan was excluded from the lists in his letter to the same hon. Member of 16 August 1988.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : Since the accident occurred while the aircraft was landing it should not have been included in my predecessor's letter of 23 March.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the accident to a Royal Navy Sea King on 23 September 1987 occurred during landing as stated in annex E of his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, or during low-level flying, as stated in his reply to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours), Official Report, column 449, 16 November 1987.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : The Sea King helicopter owned by Westlands but under military registration was undertaking sonar trials at low level when it suffered an engine failure and ditched into the sea.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether in 1979 there were two Royal Air Force fast jet major injuries as shown in table 5 of his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, or one as listed in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates".
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : The major injury to the pilot of the RAF Hunter resulting from a crash on 6 July 1979 was omitted inadvertently from the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1980". The relevant information provided by my predecessor in his letter of 16 August 1988 was correct.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were (a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Navy Bulldog at RAF Leeming on 1 June 1981.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : While carrying out a practice forced landing without power at RAF Topcliffe, the RAF Bulldog flown by a Royal Navy pilot hit the runway heavily and the landing gear collapsed. The aircraft slid some 100 m along the runway. Category 3 damage was sustained by the aircraft, while the engine and propeller were written off. The pilot suffered slight shock.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were (a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the
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damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Air Force Buccaneer of the 16 Squadron at Nellis Air Force base, Nevada, in November 1981.Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : There is no record of such an accident.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were (a) the circumstances of, (b) the nature of the damage and (c) casualties resulting from the accident to a Royal Air Force Jet Provost of the central flying school on 5 July 1984.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : While the pilot was practising aerobatics at a height of some 6,800 ft, a fuel leak caused an engine fire. The pilot made a successful forced landing at RAF Leeming and was not hurt. Originally, damage to the aircraft was assessed at category 3. Subsequently, however, it was considered that as the aircraft was nearing the end of its projected flying life it would not be economic to repair it.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1983" records only three major injuries for 1982 when table 9 of his letter of 16 August 1988 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, lists four Army other major injuries for that year.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : One such injury was omitted inadvertently from the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1983". The relevant information provided in my predecessor's letter of 16 August 1988 was correct.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what unit carried out the repairs on the Royal Air Force Tornado which crashed at RAF Wildenrath on 14 April 1987 ; and if the aircraft has now re-entered service.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : This aircraft is currently being repaired at RAF Laarbruch by a working party from 431 maintenance unit. It should return to service later this year.
RAF Phantom XV591
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the withdrawal from use of the Royal Air Force Phantom serial number XV591 during 1987.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 16 January 1989] : During routine servicing, a serious defect was discovered in this aircraft. It was decided that, since the Phantom FG1 fleet is soon to be withdrawn from service, this aircraft was beyond economical repair.
Strobe Lights
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the total expenditure in each year since 1979 on the fitment of high intensity strobe lights to military aircraft of the three services ;
(2) if he will make a statement on progress in fitting high intensity strobe lights to military aircraft of the three services ; (3) when the fitment of high intensity strobe lights of RAF Nimrod aircraft was first proposed ; what is the current status of the proposal ; and what funding has been provided for this programme.
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Mr. Neubert [holding answer 9 February 1989] : High intensity strobe lights (HISLs) have so far been fitted to aircraft of the three services as follows :
|Percentage
--------------------------------------
Royal Navy
Sea Harrier |100
Gazelle |80
Army
Scout |100
Lynx |85
Gazelle |65
Royal Air Force
Dominie |100
Harrier 3/4 |95
Harrier GR5 |<1>100
Jaguar |100
Hercules |75
Buccaneer |54
Hawk |100
VC10 C1 |100
Jetstream |65
Bulldog |<2>-
Sea King |100
Chinook |<3>5
Puma |85
Gazelle |50
Wessex |68
<1> Fitted during manufacture.
<2> Programme about to commence.
<3> Trial programme.
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Consideration is being given to fitting HISLs on a further six RAF aircraft types including Nimrod. It is not, however, our practice to comment on whether individual items are included in the forward defence programme. The installation of HISLs is undertaken only as part of a larger modification programme for each aircraft. It would not, therefore, be possible to identify separately the discrete expenditure on HISLs for military aircraft since 1979, without disproportionate cost and effort.Accident Data Recorders
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the military aircraft types operated by the three services which are fitted with accident data recorders ; and in what year each type was first fitted with this equipment ;
(2) what plans exist to fit accident data recorders to aircraft types operated by the three services which do not currently carry such equipment.
Mr. Neubert [holding answer 9 February 1989] : The following RAF fixed wing aircraft types entered service fitted with accident data recorders (ADRs) :
VC-10 (1966), Nimrod (1967), Harrier (1969), Hawk (1976), Tornado GR1 (1980), Tornado F3 (1984), BAe 146 (1986), Tristar (1986), Tucano (1988).
The Andover was modified to carry ADRs from 1970. There are no current plans to fit ADRs retrospectively to other military aircraft.
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