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Low flying

Low flying is an essential skill for aircrew and must be practised in order to fulfil the tasks demanded by current operations.

Map showing the RAF Brize Norton Control Zone, a protected area of airspace surrounding the airfield, extending north toward Leafield and Burford, east to North Leigh and Yarnton, south to Boars Hill and Highworth, and west toward Ampney Crucis, ensuring safe aircraft movements.
RAF Brize Norton Control Zone

COMPLAIN ABOUT LOW FLYING

If you wish to make a complaint about activity within the RAF Brize Norton Control Zone (pictured above) please use the following details below to register a complaint, please be aware that flying complaints are responded to within 20 working days.

Phone us: on 01993 896500

Email us at: [email protected]

Write to us: Low Flying Complaints, Operations Wing, RAF Brize Norton, Carterton, OX18 3LX

To make a complaint, send the following information:

  • your name
  • full address and postcode
  • telephone number
  • date and time of the problem
  • location of the problem
  • type of aircraft, if known
  • a brief description of your complaint

If you wish to make a complaint about activity outside of the RAF Brize Norton Control Zone, contact the Ministry of Defence Low Flying Complaints and Enquiries team:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01780 417558

It is available from Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. Outside these hours an answerphone service is provided. 

For further information about Low Flying please visit - https://www.gov.uk/low-flying-in-your-area

Drone flying

RAF Brize Norton is surrounded by a Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ), within this area it is illegal to fly any Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) without permission from Air Traffic Control or Station Operations. The FRZ is designed to protect the operational output of the Station, by ensuring the safety of our aircraft is not compromised by unregulated UAS activity. For more information on UAS please follow the link below to the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) page, where you can find an interactive map of all UK FRZ. NATS UK | UAS Restriction Zones (ead-it.com)

Map showing the RAF Brize Norton Flight Restriction Zone, a 2.5‑nautical‑mile circular area of protected airspace centred on RAF Brize Norton. This covers surrounding areas from Worsham in the north, Cudbrige in the east, Clanfield in the south, and Broughton Poggs in the west.

For any enquiries regarding flying drones in Oxfordshire please contact RAF Brize Norton Air Traffic Control on 01993 897526.

Operators flying drones near any military airfield must ensure they are aware of the UK policy for their safe operation. The Drone Code forms part of the Civil Aviation Authority's advice and guidance to drone operators, which can be found on their website.

Night flying

RAF Brize Norton operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in support of UK foreign policy and NATO commitments worldwide.

In order to meet our obligation, we have a wide-ranging infrastructure, which ensures our aircrew are trained to the highest standards. Inevitably, the maintenance of such high standards requires that we fly our aircraft in the local area, and further afield, in daylight hours, and at night.

Nevertheless, we strive to ensure that noise is kept to a minimum, especially in the quiet hours.

Viewing area

There are no official viewing areas in the vicinity of RAF Brize Norton.

Scheduled Local Training Sorties

The Scheduled Local Training Sorties documents (PDFs), for RAF Brize Norton, JADTEU, Little Rissington, Abingdon, Weston on the Green, Farmoor and South Cerney are updated regularly and made available for your convenience.

Please note RAF Brize Norton is an operational airfield. While we are committed to minimising disturbance and informing the local community, there are times when, due to operational, security or engineering reasons, we are unable to give prior notice of airfield activity outside of normal working hours, however, we strive to keep this to a minimum.

Defence Aerodrome Manual

The Defence Aerodrome Manual (DAM) contains accurate aerodrome data for RAF Brize Norton.  All airfield users, both military and civilian, are to ensure they are familiar with the relevant sections of the DAM prior to operating at RAF Brize Norton.  For further information regarding the DAM and its contents, please contact Station Operations at [email protected]

AERODROME OPERATORS HAZARD LIST

The Aerodrome Operators Hazard List clearly indicates the active aerodrome operating hazards at RAF Brize Norton.

AUTHORISATION PERMIT FOR THE USE OF CRANES AND OTHER TALL EQUIPMENT WITHIN 6KM OF RAF BRIZE NORTON

The appointed person should consult the aerodrome/airfield manager for permission to work if a crane is to be used within 6 km of the aerodrome/airfield and its height exceeds 10m or that of surrounding structures or trees, if higher. (BS7121, Part 1).  Requests to erect a crane or tall equipment within 6km or RAF Brize Norton requires an assessment to be made on any potential impact to equipment or flying procedures. Included within the Defence Aerodrome Manual (DAM) Annex I is a form which should be sent to [email protected]  6 weeks in advance of the planned activity. Further details on the process are included within the DAM.

Accessing the Airfield

Please be advised that Airfield Access Briefs at RAF Brize Norton will cease from the week commencing 27 July 2026 until further notice.

During the Op Bolthole period, personnel will not be required to complete Airfield Access Training. This reflects the cessation of flying operations and the handover of aerodrome activity to VolkerFitzpatrick, with the airfield closed to routine aircraft movements for the duration of the works. 

We recognise that many Whole Force personnel will still need to transit parts of the aerodrome to access their places of work. Approved transit routes have been established and will be clearly signposted to assist safe movement around the site. Sections requiring access to conduct inspections, audits, maintenance, or other essential activities are requested to notify Airfield Assurance at least 48 hours in advance. This will help ensure activities can be safely coordinated and deconflicted with ongoing Aircraft Operating Surface works.   

The current Airfield Access Training Package is undergoing a comprehensive review. Further details will be communicated in due course to ensure all personnel are able to obtain a new permit in accordance with the revised package in sufficient time prior to the resumption of normal aircraft operations.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Airfield Driving Manager on 01993 897066.

RAF Brize Norton Control Zone

For information regarding the RAF Brize Norton Control Zone, please contact Air Traffic Control on 01993 897785.

Information for Visiting Aircraft

Visitor Operations

Tel: : +44 (0)1993 89 5315

Email: [email protected]

Visitor Operations Normal Working Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm

Airfield Operating Hours: 24/7, 365.

Please Note:

PPR requests are to be made a minimum of 48 hours in advance (passenger and cargo flights must PPR 72hours in advance).

Brize Development Team

Brize Development Team (BDT) has been directed to deliver a programme of key transformation projects to improve capability at RAF Brize Norton, in order to meet the strategic intent of UK Defence and the vision of a 21st Century airport employing modern infrastructure, technology and systems.

BDT has the following within its remit:

  • Passenger and Baggage Handling (PBH)
    Develop and deliver improved handling and processing capability within the Air Terminal at RAF Brize Norton. This will enhance our ability to deploy and sustain personnel in a more effective manner.

  • Freight Handling Facility (FHF)
    Design, develop and deliver a new Freight Handling Facility at RAF Brize Norton. This will ensure that we are able to meet the demands on Defence of a Strategic Base Outload by Air.

  • Aircraft Operating Surface (AOS) Airbase Working Group
    Provide an interface between RAF Brize Norton and DIO, with respect to the Runway, Taxiways, Hardstanding and associated AGL refurbishment, and its accompanying Project MACE (dispersed Operations) requirement.

  • Strategic Estate Development (SED)
    Optimise coherence and communication between RAF Brize Norton and Air. Act as BZN champion and ‘intelligent customer’ to ensure optimised prioritisation and deconfliction of Estate Development elements.

In addition to Project Delivery, BDT also acts as liaison for Project HERA.

For further information about BDT including Project Managers’ details, navigate to the BDT HomePage via RAF Brize Norton’s SharePoint Page by using the link under the ‘Supported Units’ drop-down list. Should you wish for further detail or to discuss more specifically, please contact us via our group email: [email protected]