1 - The Black Vault

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From:
MINI
I
Secretariat(Air Staff)2a, Room
OF DEFENCE , ,
Main Building, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB
Telephone
(Direct dial)
(SWitchboard) ~
(Fax) ~
Your Reference
O~r Reference
D/Sec(AS)/64/3
Date
\ October 1999
Thank you for your letter regarding complaints about low flying military aircraft and sonic
booms. Your letter concerns correspondence between· myself and your colleague,
In the letter sent to
I advised that the Ministry of Defence had received no
complaints about military low flying on 24 March 1997 from Sheffield or the Howden Moors area
of the Peak District. You then wrote to me stating that you had found that the MOP received
thirteen complaints of military low flying on the date in question. I can confirm that the MOD did
indeed receive thirteen complaints for 24 March 1997, however, none of the reports originated
from Sheffield or the Peak District.
original question asked if there had been any
complaints about low flying military
two specific areas, and my reply was tailored to
his question. ·
On the matter of the alleged sonic boom on 24 March 1997, you are correct in stating that
military aircraft may only fly at supersonic speeds over the sea and to fly supersonic overland is in
breach of flying regulations. We t~ke reports of sonic booms overland very seriously and you will
be reassured to learn that the RAF Police did investigate the incident. Their investigation found
that no RAF or NATO aircraft were operating in the area at the time and that civil aircraft in the
area were travelling too slow to have generated a sonic boom.
I would like to apologise for the delay in replying .
.·. . .;. ·'·