Welsh farmers have been warned that military exercises involving low flying planes will be occurring over Wales over the coming months. The RAF issued a warning to farmers that a three-month, small-scale air exercise will be taking place over the country from 5th November 2011 to 5th February 2012.

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Helicopters and jets will be training over the Welsh countryside in preparation for operations in Afghanistan. The RAF said no weekend flying is expected and forewarned farmers that, during the week, jet and helicopter activity times should fall between 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm.

Separate helicopter exercises are likely to be centred in South Wales, with activity times falling between 7am and 4:30pm, though an RAF spokesperson said it may be necessary for aircraft to operate in Mid Wales and North Wales and on some weekends.

The spokesperson said, “As always, our pilot’s first priority will be to keep low level flying to the minimum necessary to achieve standards required to operate successfully in the dangerous theatre of Afghanistan. Their second priority is to achieve this with minimum disturbance to those on the ground.”