BLACKPOOL flying schools were taking extra security precautions this week following the terrorist attacks on America.

It was believed that the terrorists who hijacked American passenger jets and flew them into the World Trade Centre towers and the Pentagon last week learned to fly by enrolling at local flight training centres in the US.

And now flying schools on the Fylde have to inform Special Branch of each flight prior to take off, giving details of the flight and people on board.

Russell Whyham, manager of Air Navigation and Trading Co Ltd (ANT), based at Blackpool Airport, said that although the company have had no direct contact with the intelligence service, they have to send details of each flight to Special Branch before taking planes up.

"We have to fill in a form and fax it to them before we fly. Initially they wanted everybody to go through customs at the main desk at the airport but now we just have to send them this form. We have to fax it to them 10 minutes before departure," he said.

He said that he had not had any worries about any of the people flying with ANT. "Security at the airport is pretty strict anyway really. If we didn't know who we were taking up we wouldn't be going flying with them. There were security checks anyway," he said.

The form which ANT sends to Special Branch includes details of date, instructor, the nature of the flight, the duration, the time of departure, aircraft registration and number of persons on board. It also has a section giving personal details of those on board, including date and place of birth and nationality.

Westair Flying School, also based at the airport at Squires Gate Lane, stopped all flights on the Wednesday immediately following the attacks in America. Flying has now resumed but the school also has to communicate with Special Branch before flights.

John Hobday, flying school manager at Westair, said that apart from the Special Branch checks and extra vigilance by staff it was business as usual. "We are not unduly worried about the situation. Obviously we have to advise Special Branch on all our flights and there's a noticeable police presence on the airport now but other than that it's just a case of being sensible.

"If some strange character turns up you would think twice, but we know all our members, " he said.

Staff members at Comed Aviation Ltd and Blackpool Air Centre (BAC), both based at Blackpool Airport, also confirmed that the companies were notifying Special Branch of all flights.

IN a specially convened Commons debate on the terrorist attacks, Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden urged a practical response that did not demonise Islam or law-abiding Muslims.

Mr Marsden described the attacks as "a monstrous crime" and stressed Britain's ties of "history, culture, language and blood" with the US.

He also urged a fresh look at airline security, access to cockpits and staff training, warning British airlines not to be complacent as our internal flight schedules resemble more and more those of the United States.