Low flying remains an essential skill for military aircrew. UK forces have deployed repeatedly to potential trouble spots around the world usually with little or no warning. They have to undertake a variety of roles including reconnaissance, fast-jet or helicopter operations, search and rescue, transporting troops or the delivery of humanitarian aid to remote locations. Whatever missions we ask our Armed Forces to undertake the aircrew must be able to fulfil the task as effectively as possible, often without time for "work-up" training. Current Operations around the world see aircrew of both fixed and rotary wing aircraft undertaking operations at low level. They are only able to do this through specialist training gained through the use of the UK Low Flying System.

The UK Military Low Flying System covers the open airspace of the whole of the UK and surrounding overseas areas from the surface to 2,000 feet above the ground or mean sea level.

Military fixed wing aircraft are judged to be low flying when they are less than 2000 feet minimum separation distance from the ground.  Light propeller driven aircraft and helicopters are judged to be low flying below 500 feet minimum separation distance from the ground.

(minimum separation distance is defined as the distance that must be maintained between any part of an aircraft in flight and the ground, water or any object.  It does not apply to separation between aircraft in the same formation).

Low Flying -  The Facts

• Is an essential skill that provides aircrew with one of the best chances of survival
  
• Is a highly demanding skill which can only be maintained through continuous and realistic training
  
• Is conducted with the safety of people on the ground, our aircrew, and other airspace users as the overriding concern
  
• Is rigorously controlled and continuously monitored
  
• Has reduced since 1988 - the total number of sorties by a third and those by jets by more than half

Covers mainland Scotland north of the central region, the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland. Major flying stations are RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Kinloss and RAF Leuchars, as well as the Air Weapons Range at Tain, Army Training Areas at Barry Buddon, Benbecula, Garelochhead and Inverness, the Royal Marines Barracks at Arbroath, ant RN training areas at Cape Wrath and Loch Ewe.  LFA 14 also includes the area known as Low Flying Area 14C and the Tactical Training Area 14T.

Usable area: 57,604 km2 (22,241 sq mls). This represents 31.6% of the total usable area of the UK Low Flying System.

There are three areas in the low flying system known as Tactical Training Areas.  It is within these areas that Operational Low Flying is permitted. This is when fixed wing aircraft are authorised to fly as low as 100ft minimum separation distance, although larger aircraft such as C-130 Hercules are only permitted to fly as low as 150ft.