Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the risk to local buildings from larger commercial aircraft using RAF Northolt.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
There are no plans to increase the size of Business Aviation aircraft using RAF Northolt which will continue to be accepted under the existing strict terms and conditions in place.
The risk to buildings near to RAF Northolt is managed by strict adherence to safeguarding regulations which determine the size and height of buildings that can be built in the vicinity of the station including approach and departure paths. This protects both aircraft and those on the ground. The regulations are outlined in "The town and country planning (safeguarded aerodromes, technical sites and military explosives storage areas) direction 2002" and the "Manual of Aerodrome Design and Safeguarding".
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of whether any (a) military or (b) civil aeronautical regulations are currently being breached at RAF Northolt.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
RAF Northolt underwent a routine audit by the Military Aviation Authority during April to May 2017 during which the Civil Aviation Authority were also present as observers. No significant negative or non-compliancy findings were made against the station.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the proportion of time RAF service personnel spend on their military duties at RAF Northolt.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
RAF Northolt is a military airbase and RAF personnel are deployed there on military duties. Where RAF personnel support civilian aircraft movements, this is within irreducible spare capacity for their functions and their existing military duty hours.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-military staff are employed at RAF Northolt for the purposes of providing services for commercial flights; and how much the provision of such staff costs.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Mr Phillip Dunne) on 22 February 2016 to Question 26707.
One Ministry of Defence civil servant at Executive Officer grade is employed at RAF Northolt with a salary range of £24,663 to £28,253. There are five personnel employed through the multi-activity contractor, within the Commercial Booking Cell. I am withholding these staff costs as they are commercially sensitive.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether RAF service personnel are involved in providing services for commercial flights at RAF Northolt.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Mr Phillip Dunne) on 22 February 2016 to Question 26707.
One Ministry of Defence civil servant at Executive Officer grade is employed at RAF Northolt with a salary range of £24,663 to £28,253. There are five personnel employed through the multi-activity contractor, within the Commercial Booking Cell. I am withholding these staff costs as they are commercially sensitive.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many tonnes of materials will be excavated from the runway re-surfacing at RAF Northolt; and where that waste will be taken.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Until the detailed design is complete this is an unknown quantity. However, all work will be conducted in line with regulatory standards, following Government guidelines and approvals.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether RAF service personnel have been involved in the marketing and promotion of commercial flights at RAF Northolt.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 10 February 2016 to Question 26707.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Arrestor Beds have been installed, or are about to be installed, at any RAF station other than RAF Northolt.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Arrestor Beds have been installed at RAF Northolt. There are no other plans to install Arrestor Beds at any other RAF station in the UK.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Arrestor Beds being installed at RAF Northolt are EMAS Arrestor Beds.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The installation of the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) Arrestor Beds at RAF Northolt will give the RAF the ability to ensure site containment and safety in the event an aircraft overrunning the runway.
The EMAS Arrestor system, which will be used at RAF Northolt is currently the only product certified for use in the U.K. which has been scientifically modelled and manufactured to ensure arresting capability.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the safety benefits are of installing Arrestor Beds at RAF Northolt.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The installation of the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) Arrestor Beds at RAF Northolt will give the RAF the ability to ensure site containment and safety in the event an aircraft overrunning the runway.
The EMAS Arrestor system, which will be used at RAF Northolt is currently the only product certified for use in the U.K. which has been scientifically modelled and manufactured to ensure arresting capability.