UK - OLYMPICS 2012: UK's Air Force fighter jets on stand-by to enforce tight security ahead of Olympic Games.

Record ID: 331041

  • Title: UK - OLYMPICS 2012: UK's Air Force fighter jets on stand-by to enforce tight security ahead of Olympic Games.
  • Date: 14th July 2012
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - MAY 2, 2012) (REUTERS) TYPHOON JET TAKING OFF TYPHOON JET FLYING TYPHOON JET LANDING
  • Embargoed: 29th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Defence / Military,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7FRIKL5DELNW6KIQW57L8QLTU
  • Story Text: Britain's air force will be on standby to shoot down any rogue aircraft over London from Saturday, under tight new restrictions being enforced two weeks ahead of the Olympic Games.
    Olympics restricted air space comes into effect over the capital and parts of the southeast on Saturday (July 14).
    On Friday (July 13), the Royal Air Force warned planes that stray into the protected zone and do not respond to a series of warnings, such as flares and written messages, could ultimately be shot down.
    Under the new rules, all planes, from commercial airliners to single-seat craft, hang gliders and even model aircraft must adhere to strict regulations to fly across much of southeast England.
    There will also be an outright ban for planes over central London and the Olympic Park, other than those using the capital's Heathrow and City airports and a few other exceptions. Planes will be monitored by military air traffic controllers while teams of ground observers will keep watch for unauthorized craft.
    The commander of Olympic Air Security, Air Vice-Marshal Stuart Atha, said if planes don't abide by the rules, lethal force could be used as a last resort.
    "In order to protect London and to deliver a safe and secure games, it's really important that we understand what everyone is doing, so that we can detect the abnormal, the potential threat, and then investigate further," he said.
    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said it had carried out its largest education process ever to inform pilots of the restrictions, which will last for a month but would not impact scheduled commercial flights according to officials.
    The CAA Assistant Director of Airspace Policy Phil Roberts, said "We've gone to all 37,000 general aviation pilots in the UK, we've produced about 60,000 leaflets, we've done roadshows, we've done iPad... iPod casts, we've done twitter feeds... you know every possible media that we could use to try and get this message out."
    Pilots that breach the restricted zone face having their licence suspended.
    Typhoon fighter jets and military helicopters carrying snipers will be dispatched to intercept any suspicious planes and guide them away from the Olympic Park. Four Typhoons will be on standby with a pilot in the cockpit of one of the jets at all times, able to intercept any intruders into the restricted zone within minutes.
    Batteries of ground air defences armed with Rapier and Starstreak missiles have been set up in six locations around London, a plan that has angered people living nearby.
    Security surrounding the Olympics has made the headlines this week after Britain was forced to deploy 3,500 extra troops to fill an embarrassing last-minute shortfall in private security staff.
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