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RAF SHAWBURY

Overview
Facilities

Flying Info

Contact Us
News


ON THIS PAGE

 * Low flying
 * Low Flying Complaints and Enquires
 * Night flying
 * Viewing area
 * Nesscliff Operations
 * RAF Shawbury High Visibility Campaign - Be Seen Be Safer
 * Drone Safety

More


LOW FLYING

Low Flying Area 9 (LFA 9), covering all of Shropshire and the borders of
adjacent counties, is a dedicated helicopter training area for military
helicopters.

A map of Low Flying Area 9

Intensive low-level helicopter activity, often down to ground level, takes place
within the area between Monday to Friday, 8:30am until 5.30pm with night flying
occurring at periodic intervals. Detailed information on night flying can be
viewed at the Night Flying Section of the website. Training does not normally
take place at weekends or during Bank Holidays; however, extended hours or
24-hour flying may occur on any day of the week when operationally required.

More concentrated training activity occurs at RAF Shawbury and the Relief
Landing Grounds of Tern Hill and Chetwynd airfield. Nesscliff Training Area is
also used extensively for training and exercises.

Most of the helicopter training activity in Low Flying Area 9 is carried out by
No.1 Flying Training School, which trains helicopter aircrew for frontline
service in the Royal Navy, British Army and the Royal Air Force, and The Central
Flying School (Helicopters), which trains the next generation of military
helicopter instructors. Both schools are based at RAF Shawbury and operate Juno
HT1 and the Jupiter HT1 helicopters. Juno and Jupiter helicopters from RAF
Shawbury may also operate outside of Low Flying Area 9, in any part of the UK
Military Low Flying System. Low Flying Area 9 may also be used for operational
training and exercises by other military aircraft.

If you wish to find out more about military low flying, please
visit: https://www.gov.uk/low-flying-in-your-area


LOW FLYING COMPLAINTS AND ENQUIRES

If you wish to make a complaint or enquire about low flying within Low Flying
Area 9, covering all of Shropshire and the borders of adjacent counties, please
use the following means of contact:

Email: SHY-LowFlying@mod.gov.uk

Post: Low Flying Complaints and Enquires, RAF Shawbury, Shropshire, SY4 4DZ

Phone: 01939 251712

When making a complaint or enquiry, please provide the following information so
that your complaint or enquiry can be looked into efficiently:

 * Full name (title, first name and surname):
 * Full postal address and postcode:
 * Telephone number:
 * Location of the problem (If different from postal address):
 * Date and time of the problem:
 * Aircraft description (colour, size, any identifying features/numbers):
 * A brief description of your complaint/enquiry:

We aim to respond to all complaints and enquiries within 20 working days.

For low flying complaints and enquires outside of Low Flying Area 9, more
information on how to make a complaint or an enquiry can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/low-flying-in-your-area/find-out-about-low-flying-in-your-area.


NIGHT FLYING

This Page is updated on a regular basis and you may need to refresh your browser
for the most up to date information.

No. 1 Flying Training School will commence a night flying period on Monday
8th August until approximately Thursday 22nd September. Flying can normally be
anticipated on Monday to Thursday evenings and we appreciate your tolerance of
this essential training.

Helicopter crews will fly training sorties using Night Vision Devices throughout
the whole of Low Flying Area 9 (LFA 9).  Crews may use Nesscliff Training Area,
Tern Hill and Chetwynd Airfield as part of their training, as well as practise
circuits at RAF Shawbury.

NIGHT FLYING TIMES

Within the available hours of darkness at this time of year night flying will
begin, typically, at dusk and should be finished by 0200 hours local (or earlier
if the program is complete). We realise that night flying, will, regrettably,
cause some noise disturbance and therefore the amount of night training is kept
to the minimum required to train our aircrew effectively. Information about
military low flying can be found by
visiting https://www.gov.uk/low-flying-in-your-area

Although every effort will be made to promulgate accurate information, the
forecast night flying programme and times may be subject to short-notice changes
owing to weather conditions, aircraft serviceability and other unforeseen
factors. Helicopters from No. 1 Flying Training School (1 FTS) may use the
Nesscliff Training Area, Chetwynd or Tern Hill airfield to conduct exercises
including under-slung load training.

During Night Flying Periods the Duty Ops Controller can be contacted on 01939
250351 Ext 7232.

To complain or enquire about night flying, please see the Low Flying Complaints
and Enquires section, within the Low Flying Information section.


VIEWING AREA

There is no official viewing area for the safe viewing of aircraft at RAF
Shawbury.


NESSCLIFF OPERATIONS

Nesscliff Training Area (NTA) is a military facility which is used extensively
throughout the year by helicopters from RAF Shawbury for training pilots and
rear crew. Much of the training activity will be undertaken by Juno helicopters
of  No. 1 Flying Training School (1 FTS) between 9am and 5pm (Monday to Friday)
with night flying occurring at periodic intervals.

Owing to the flexible nature of the training programmes it is not possible to
post detailed information on day-to-day activities as factors such as weather
conditions, crew availability or aircraft serviceability are subject to change
at short notice and, therefore, we could not guarantee its accuracy.
Furthermore, the prevailing wind on the day will have a significant effect on
the precise location selected for a particular exercise and the levels of noise
generated.

A detailed map of Nesscliff Operating Areas



Area A - Confined Areas
Area B - Confined areas, sloping ground, general handling
Area C - Confined areas, sloping ground, general handling underslung loads

Because of the narrow shape of the NTA, helicopters will generally not be able
to remain within its confines when conducting exercises involving flying a
circuit pattern especially in a prevailing westerly wind. However, aircrew will
endeavour to avoid overflying houses in the surrounding area and villages
wherever possible.

Please note that military helicopters from other Service bases may also operate
by day or night from the NTA for unspecified periods throughout the year.

Detailed information on helicopter night training be viewed at the  night flying
section 


SAFETY CAMPAIGNS


RAF SHAWBURY HIGH VISIBILITY CAMPAIGN - BE SEEN BE SAFER

RAF Shawbury launched it’s 'Be Seen, Be Safer' horse rider awareness campaign in
April 2015. The aim of the campaign is to promote the wearing of high visibility
clothing by riders in Low Flying Area 9 so that they are more visible and can be
seen earlier by the helicopter crew. Whilst high-visibility clothing may not
prevent all over-flights as there may be other safety considerations, it does
provide a considerable, cost-effective improvement to rider safety.

Group Captain Philip Wadlow, RAF Shawbury Station Commander and Commandant of
Number 1 Flying Training School said: “The task of Number 1 Flying Training
School is to train military aircrew to be as professional and effective as
possible. Low flying is an essential skill that all military helicopter aircrew
must train in to reduce the risk to helicopters when operating in extremely
demanding environments, whether these tasks are in support of peacekeeping,
war-fighting or humanitarian relief. This essential training will usually take
place in rural areas that are sometimes also used by horse riders. Flight trials
run in 2003, in conjunction with the British Horse Society, demonstrated how
effective high-visibility clothing is in enabling aircrew to see riders earlier
and reduce the risk to them and their horses.”

RAF Shawbury’s campaign is also supported by the British Horse Society, who
awarded the Tarquin Trophy to RAF Shawbury in 2015 for the “organisation which
had made a significant contribution to equestrian safety.”  

Alan Hiscox, Director of Safety at The BHS said “We are very pleased to have
been working with RAF Shawbury for several years so that riders can understand
the efforts that RAF pilots make to avoid flying over them. The wearing of high
visibility clothing makes such a difference and increases the safety of every
horse and rider.”

Wing Commander Lee Turner, Officer Commanding Operations Wing at RAF Shawbury
said: “I am very supportive of this campaign which makes a real difference to
the safety of horse riders and carriage drivers in Low Flying Area 9. As part of
the training syllabus, our instructors teach the trainees to consider riders and
carriage drivers and if they can see them, they will do all that they can to
avoid them if possible. I hope that riders will realise the benefits of wearing
high viz and work with us to ensure that Low Flying Area 9 is as safe as
possible for both riders and our aircrew.”

Squadron Leader Gary James, the Station Flight Safety Officer said: “With our
helicopters travelling at speeds of up to 120 kts (130+ mph) at low level it can
be very difficult to spot horse riders despite the very best lookout. This is
because horses and  dark coloured clothing tend to blend into the background.
Against a wood line, a cropped field or a stone wall, for example, it can be
almost impossible to see the rider until the aircraft is less than a few
hundred metres away. By wearing an item of Hi-Viz while on horseback, the rider
gives the pilot a far greater chance of seeing them”.

For more information contact:

Corporate Engagement and Relations Office
RAF Shawbury
Shrewsbury
SY4 4DZ

Email: kim.leach347@mod.gov.uk 

Tel: 01939 250351 x7177

Download Be Seen Be Safer Poster

Download Be Seen Be Safer Leaflet

Thank you for your support. Since we received our new high-visibility equipment
in Spring 2021 we have had significant support for the campaign for which we are
very grateful. This has meant though that most of our high-visibility equipment
is now out of stock and we are unable to fulfil any further orders. We hope to
receive more high-visibility equipment in Spring 2022.

If you would like any further information on RAF Shawbury’s Be Seen, Be Safer
campaign, please contact the team at the address below.

Email: SHY-BeSeenBeSafer@mod.gov.uk  

Email: ceroshawbury@gmail.com

Post:

CERO Office
RAF Shawbury
Shropshire
SY4 4DZ


DRONE SAFETY

HAVE YOU SPOTTED A DRONE?

Please can we ask that if you see a drone flying in Low Flying Area 9
(Shropshire and borders of adjacent counties), that you kindly let us know?  We
hope that we will already be aware of it, but we would very much like to be
informed twice than not at all for the safety of our crews.  To notify us,
please call RAF Shawbury Operations on 01939 250351 Extension 7163. In times
when this number is unavailable, please use our Drone Notification Form

If you feel that the drone is being flown in such a way that could endanger an
aircraft then please call both RAF Shawbury on 01939 250351 Ext 7163, if the
sighting is in Shropshire or the surrounding areas, and then the Police on 101.
Your assistance and vigilance are greatly appreciated.

DO YOU FLY A DRONE?

Since the incidents at Gatwick and Heathrow Airports there have been several
changes to the rules regarding the flying of drones.  For the very latest
information please go to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) page - Drone Code.
You can also Download a leaflet on guidance to best practice when operating a
drone within Low Flying Area 9 (Shropshire and borders of adjacent counties).

The biggest change is the establishment of Flight Restricted Zones (FRZs) and
Runway Protection Zones (RPZs) around airfields both military and civilian.  In
short, it is illegal to fly a drone within these zones unless you have specific
permission from that airfield.  We have a number of drone operators who
regularly fly within our zones because we have an excellent working relationship
with them.  They either fly their drones outside of our normal flying hours of
8:45am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday or, if they require to fly within these times
and within the zones, they can request permission.  Nearly all of the time we
grant that permission as long as it does not affect our operations, or we can
work around it.  We positively encourage this communication as it works well for
all concerned.

For an interactive version of all the zones within the UK, please go to - UK FRZ
Map

The National Air Traffic Service (NATS) have also produced a free safety app
called Drone Assist which is well worth downloading.  The App along with others,
can be found on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Finally, we would kindly request that any drone operator intending to fly within
Low Flying Area 9 (Shropshire and borders of adjacent counties), please inform
us on 01939 250351 Extension 7163 so we can warn our crews. In times when this
number is unavailable, please use our Drone Notification Form. We will only want
basic information such as location, height and timings.  It is not our intention
to stifle your fun or hobby, we are simply trying to ensure that the skies above
our beautiful county are as safe as possible for all.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation, we wish you all the very best with
your drone flying.

 





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