Queen 'at terror risk' as Royal helicopter flight plans including exact routes and times revealed days in advance
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There are fears the Queen and other members of her family could be put at risk as detailed flight plans of Royal helicopter flights are made public days in advance, it was reported.
The exact routes and times of the trips are available to the public 48 hours before take-off.
The move has sparked fears that terrorists could use the details to launch an attack against the Royal Family.
Detailed plans are released in advance in a bid to warn private aircraft pilots and drone operators to minimise the risk of a collision with a helicopter following a number of near-misses with drones.
(Image: Getty)
Plans were available for a Royal helicopter trip from Windsor Castle to Cheltenham in Gloucestershire on Friday, the Mail on Sunday reported.
The newspaper said it used co-ordinates given in the plans to photograph Prince Andrew boarding a Sikorsky S756 helicopter after visiting the GCHQ spy headquarters in Cheltenham before returning to Windsor.
Earlier plans revealed a Thursday trip from Kensington Palace to Membury airfield in Berkshire, where Princess Anne had visited a stud farm.
(Image: Jeff J Mitchell)
It was the first time a Royal helicopter flight plan was made available to the public under the current alert system.
Dai Davies, former head of royal protection, said: "This gives me grave concern as to the overall risk potential.
"Why bother spending millions of pounds on protecting the Royal Family on the ground, then make this information available in advance? I just despair."
Security expert Professor Anthony Glees expressed fears that publishing flight plans in advance would encourage "terrorists, mad people and pranksters".
(Image: Press Association)
He said the flight plans should be kept secret.
Pilots and drone operators are required to check the Notice to Airmen (Notam) safety alert system for potential hazards before flying their aircraft.
The alerts - involving Royal, private and civilian aircraft - are posted by the Civil Aviation Authority and air traffic controller Nats online and on airspace mapping apps.
Notam alerts started including details of Royal helicopter flights last week following a risk assessment, it was reported.
The CAA told the Mail on Sunday that the Royal Household had decided to publish the flight information.
A spokeswoman for the Royal Household declined to comment.