RAF takes farmers on low-level flight

Farmers in Northern Ireland have been taken on a low-level flying mission with the RAF to show them how air crews try to avoid disturbing livestock.

Ulster Farmers’ Union county chairmen took the 40 minute helicopter flight from RAF Aldergrove this week around Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Isles 20 miles west of Belfast.

Discussions focussed on the need to avoid startling livestock and the RAF reassured members that every flight was carefully planned to try and avoid such incidents and any complaints were fully investigated.

“It is part of our engagement policy, to let people in the area understand why we do the training we do for our areas of operations, but also the preparations that goes into it as well,” Group Captain David Cass of RAF 230 Squadron told BBC News.

“There is a lot of thought goes into every hour that we fly in the Royal Air Force. Low flying is a very perishable skill and we need to practice it a lot. We can do so much on a simulator, but there is no substitute for the real aircraft.”

The UFU’s Kate Cairns was on board the flight. “It made us realise what their issues are and what they have to consider,” she said. “We have got a lot of reassurance that their intention is not to go out and hurt livestock, the intention is to avoid it.

“It is an issue they are concerned about and they want to reduce as well.”

The RAF is keen for farmers to come forward and offer them clearance to land on their fields. Anyone who would like to assist with this should contact Kate Cairns at UFU Headquarters, 02890 370 222.