aviation - the past, present and future of flight

the Iraqi air defence network, the war moved
to medium-level to avoid any anti-aircraft
guns that might remain.
Since this shift and due to the advent
of smart precision-guided weapons, the
majority of fast air operations are now
conducted at medium level, generally above
20,000ft, while all rotary and some heavy lift
assets still frequent the low-level world. Ask
any bomber pilot where they feel safer and it
will be down low, hiding behind some rocks.
Back in 2007, I was operating in Southern
Iraq over the coastal town of Basra when I got
a radio call of ‘troops in contact’. This meant,
in no uncertain terms, that some soldiers
needed our help, fast. Pushing both engines
into reheat sent us racing towards the town
of Amarah almost 100 miles (161km) to the
north – the journey took us just eight minutes.
There had been a roadside bomb,
signi cant casualties and further insurgent
activity had been reported. The soldiers
were vulnerable and in danger of getting
into a  re ght. As we neared the scene,
the unit on the ground were talking about
possible target locations that we could hit
with a Paveway bomb or the 27mm Mauser
cannon armed with high explosive rounds.
The problem is that it’s not easy to target
an insurgent in a crowd of bystanders. We’d
have to use another method and as we
raced over the top of the crowd at the height
of the treetops, with the wings back and
in full reheat, we knew that any insurgents
left in the town could be under no illusion
that their nemesis had arrived. The crowd
dispersed without a shot being  red.
Low-level  ying has many uses and
can be a challenge for even the best of

pilots, so its utility as a learning instrument

is compelling. In my last role as a  ying

instructor on 4 Sqn,  ying the Hawk T2, we

used it to increase the mental capacity of

our students. We also saw it as an essential

skill that, when eroded, can lead to a lack of

con dence and accidents.

LOW-FLYING AREAS

The United Kingdom Low Flying System

(UKLFS) extends from the ground to 2,000ft

above ground level (AGL). The whole of the

UK is available for low  ying except for some

designated areas, which include airports,

industrial and medical establishments and

areas of high population density, and some

sensitive sites. There are also national

prohibited and restricted areas which all

military and civil aircraft must avoid.

During the day, the UKLFS is divided up

into 18 Low Flying Areas (LFAs), some are

grouped into Dedicated User Areas (DUAs) to

facilitate speci c training requirements. There

are also three Tactical Training Areas (TTAs)

in which transport and fast jets can conduct

Operational Low Flying (OLF); fast jets down

to 100ft and transports to 150ft, which is more

typical of those used on combat operations.

These TTAs are situated within LFAs and are

in the more remote areas of the UK; LFA 7(T)

is in central Wales, 14(T) northern Scotland

and 20(T) in the Borders area of southern

Scotland and northern England. OLF takes

considerable skill and concentration, so

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 27

An RAF Hercules takes full
advantage of the mountainous
terrain after cresting the
Honister Pass in the Lake
District. Nathan Daws

The pilot of this Typhoon will have entered the route onto a digital map of the UK to help

decon ict from other traffic. Radio calls are also made, detailing the intended track on

a dedicated low-level frequency, and aircrew keep a sharp lookout. All of these layers of

protection are aimed at reducing the risk of a mid-air collision. Dino Carrara