Military low flying is used to train military aircrew. Low flying by military aircraft is carried out across all of the UK. Low flying means: fixed-wing aircraft flying down to 250 feet from the ground rotary-wing aircraft (for example helicopters) flying down to 100 feet from the ground Rotary-wing aircraft can also be authorised to go lower than 100 feet from the ground. Low flying isn’t usually allowed in areas around airports, or towns and cities with populations of more than 10,000. Find out more about: safety concerns and low flying noise from commercial airports

Where and when low flying happens

The UK is divided into 20 separate low flying areas. Three of these areas are also known as ‘tactical training areas’. These are in: central Wales northern Scotland the borders area of southern Scotland and northern England Ministry of Defence ( MOD ) publishes a monthly timetable for the low flying tactical training areas and MOD sponsored air exercises . Air weapons ranges The Royal Air Force ( RAF ) currently uses 5 air weapons ranges. These are: Donna Nook and Holbeach in Lincolnshire Pembrey Sands in Carmarthenshire Tain in Ross-shire Cape Wrath in Sutherland Air weapons ranges are used for: low flying military aircraft air to ground bombing MOD publishes a monthly timetable for air weapons ranges activity . Red flags or lights, signs and sentries show when you can’t go onto an air weapons range. You can also contact MOD about low flying in your area.

Find out about low flying in your area

Contact the Ministry of Defence ( MOD ) for information about low flying military aircraft in your area. Low flying in England, Wales and Scotland Contact the Low Flying Complaints and Enquiries Unit to complain or enquire about low flying in your area. Low flying information for England, Wales and Scotland SWK-lowflying@mod.gov.uk Telephone: 01780 417558 Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm Find out about call charges Low Flying Complaints and Enquiries Unit RAF Wittering Peterborough PE8 6HB To make a complaint, send the following information: your name full address and postcode telephone number date and time of the problem location of the problem type of aircraft, if known a brief description of your complaint You should get a response within 20 days. Your complaint can be investigated by the Defence Flying Complaints Investigation Team if it’s about serious injuries or damage. Enquiries about horse riding Call the low level advisory service if you want to ride a horse and are worried about low flying aircraft. Low level advisory service Telephone: 0800 515544 Find out about call charges Low flying in Northern Ireland Low flying information for Northern Ireland 38X-PolicyLegacy-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk Policy Legacy (Secretariat Team) HQ 38 (Irish) Bde and Northern Ireland Garrison Thiepval Barracks British Forces Post Office 825

Request low flying to be temporarily stopped

You can apply to have low flying stopped temporarily in your area, for example if you’re holding an agricultural or horse show. Contact the Ministry of Defence ( MOD ) to apply . They will grant your request if it doesn’t significantly disturb the low flying training. When applying, make sure you include the: name and nature of the event location and ordnance survey grid reference contact details for the people holding the event date and time when you would like low flying to be stopped

Low flying military aircraft

Overview

Military low flying is used to train military aircrew. Low flying by military aircraft is carried out across all of the UK.

Low flying means:

fixed-wing aircraft flying down to 250 feet from the ground
rotary-wing aircraft (for example helicopters) flying down to 100 feet from the ground

Rotary-wing aircraft can also be authorised to go lower than 100 feet from the ground.

Low flying isn’t usually allowed in areas around airports, or towns and cities with populations of more than 10,000.

Find out more about:

safety concerns and low flying
noise from commercial airports

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Low flying military aircraft

Overview

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Low flying military aircraft

Overview

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