There are hopes the Red Arrows will continue to use the airspace over RAF Scampton

RAF Scampton's airspace could still be used for the Red Arrows, as its new home is unlikely to facilitate all their required training.

A consultation is currently underway to expand the airspace at the Reds new home: RAF Waddington.

This would allow them to occasionally train there.

The Red Arrows may still be seen around RAF Scampton, that has now closed.

The Ministry of Defence announced in 2018 the base would be closed as part of cost-saving measures.

As they move into their new home at RAF Waddington by the end of the year, discussions about where they will train have been raised, as the airspace at RAF Waddington does not currently allow for their training exercises.

If permissions are approved to expand the airspace at RAF Waddington, a new remotely-piloted Protector RG Mk1 aircraft will also be introduced to the air. 

Squadron Leader, James Turner is a reserve and is helping the relocation of the Arrows. He says 

"At the end of the day if the Red Arrows have nowhere to train.

Then there are no Red Arrows, that's it, it's the end and that's not what anyone wants."

"At the time when we started looking at contingency plans for the Red Arrows, the Protector airspace was being looked at.

They very kindly allowed the Red Arrows to integrated within that proposal with the CAA and essentially use the airspace if its approved.

So, that was quite lucky because it's very very important for the Red Arrows and the MOD to make this activity as safe as possible.

So we've got to have some sort of protected air space and we don't have that, at the moment, at Waddington.

Not in the same guise as we do at RAF Scampton.

So by embedding within this airspace change proposal, if we can get permission to use it, it protects the Red Arrows and other users who have to stay out of the airspace when the team are using it, and it allows the team to conduct their activity safely."