We have been advised by the Chair of Exeter Airport Consultative Committee that Military Aircraft use Exeter for training flights for the following reasons:

1. Due to the height of Westhill the instrument (radio beam) landing system on the westerly runway is one of the steepest in the UK.
2. At 2000m the runway is very short for large aircraft.
3. Both the above make pilots think they are visually too high on the approach.
4. The large jet C17 and the 4 engine turboprop Atlas have to be able to tactically land in confined insecure areas and all of the above require recurrent training.

The noise abatement procedure for the westerly runway requires the majority of aircraft to climb straight ahead to 1000’ and then make an expeditious turn to avoid Exeter City. This map trace shows the approximate track of a Boeing 737-800 full of passengers and fuel departing for say Cyprus.

The RAF aircraft generally do not land following a training approach to the runway. They conduct a ‘missed approach’ from about 100’ and climb straight ahead to 1000’ before turning. These aircraft carry relatively little fuel and no cargo – they are very light. They climb quickly and reach 1000’ well before the M5 and Middlemoor so the resultant route over the ground could pass over Clyst St Mary. They level off at 1000’ as this is the circuit height for training. The only consolation is that they have to throttle back early to avoid overshooting 1000’ and accelerating in the turn.