Ministry of Defence
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MoD announces public consultation on UAV airspace expansion
The increasing sophistication of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) used by UK Armed Forces means that the current airspace above Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire is now insufficient to accommodate the full training requirement. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is therefore undertaking public consultation on proposals to extend the existing segregated airspace to include an additional area to the south of the Salisbury Plain Training Area.
The proposed new area of operation, bounded by Warminster, Andover, Stockbridge and Shaftesbury, would only be activated when required for training, predominantly during normal working hours. It would include additional airspace to provide separation from civil air traffic when activated.
Following initial discussion with various organisations, the public consultation period will last until late September, and will include drop-in sessions at Salisbury Guildhall on 22 July and 30 August from 2pm to 6pm. Its aim is to seek comment and feedback on the proposals from interested parties.
"Watchkeeper, the MoD's new tactical UAV, is likely to be the first UAV to utilise the proposed airspace, which extends from 8,000 to 16,000 feet. At those altitudes it will be difficult for a ground observer to see or hear the UAV," said Commander Dennis Ryan from the MoD project team. The proposed new airspace may affect a small proportion of the aviation community that currently uses this airspace, but procedures will be put in place to ensure any disruption is kept to an absolute minimum."
"Unmanned aircraft are proving to be a great asset in improving the effectiveness of deployed forces, particularly in the intelligence and surveillance roles, and are now in use on operations", said Commander Ryan. "The new generation of equipment has considerably improved performance and sensor capability that requires integration into military training exercises."
Operation at height to the south of the Salisbury Plain Training Area is aimed at providing a "look down" capability onto the training area from up to 15 miles away. Operating at greater height and distance is a key element in reducing the risk from hostile action on operations. Imagery produced will only be employed for operational training purposes, and will be subject to the 1998 Data Protection Act.
Subject to any changes arising from the consultation process, and with regulatory approval from the Civil Aviation Authority, implementation is planned by the end of 2009.
Defence security and technology company QinetiQ is contracted by MoD to provide support to the Airspace Change Proposal and consultation exercise. For further information, or to register your views as part of the public consultation please visit http://www.qinetiq.com/airspace or post queries to: Airspace Consultation, MoD Boscombe Down, Wiltshire SP4 0JF. E-mail to airspacechange@qinetiq.com
NOTE TO EDITORS:
1. The WATCHKEEPER system, of which Thales UK is the Prime Contractor, is representative of the type of UAV that the MoD plans to fly in the proposed airspace. Procured for the British Army, it represents a considerable advance in capability over existing unmanned aircraft and is due to enter service in 2010. Relatively small and lightweight, it is designed to carry various sensors to provide surveillance for troops on the ground. It is capable of operating from hard or rough strip runways.
2. MoD used the Salisbury Plain Training Area for training with the Army's former Phoenix UAV from 1998 until withdrawal earlier this year.
3. The aircraft will be undertaking a series of flight trials at the Aberporth range in Wales before being deployed for operator training over Salisbury Plain.
