The iconic Red Arrows display team has been given permission to conduct low-flying training over a Nottinghamshire airbase as the team looks for a new training location. The RAF has announced the Civil Aviation Authority has allowed the practice flights to take place from January 9 until April 17 over RAF Syerston, in Flintham, near Newark.
The low-flying training would previously have taken place at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, the former home of the Red Arrows, which closed in September as part of cost-cutting measures by the Ministry of Defence. Outlining the reason for the temporary airspace change, the RAF said: "The MOD is selling RAF Scampton which it hopes to complete in early 2023 and the [Red Arrows] will relocate to RAF Waddington prior to this date.
"The MOD is exploring alternative airspaces to enable the Red Arrows to continue to train. RAF Syerston has been identified as potentially suitable. To determine whether RAF Syerston is a viable option for establishment of new permanent airspace, a temporary airspace structure is required to test the site and assess what the impact would be on local aviation and ground stakeholders."
