Concerns have been raised about a new arrangement which will allow armed fighter jets land at Inverness Airport in emergencies.
Highlands and Islands Airports (Hial) has described the chances of such an event happening as “unlikely”.
But concern has been raised by local politicians about the impact it could have on regular traffic.
The new policy will allow armed Typhoon jets from RAF Lossiemouth to touch down at Dalcross in an emergency, where previously they could only land if they were not carrying weapons.
If an armed jet were to land, a exclusion zone of nearly 2,000ft would have to be established, which could have an impact on civilian traffic.
Inglis Lyon, managing director of HIAL said: “The airport has agreed a memorandum of understanding which allows the use of the aerodrome in the unlikely event of an emergency.
“In such a situation, nothing would be done to compromise either passenger services or safety, or the use of the aerodrome for civilian aircraft.”
Minutes of a recent meeting of the airport’s internal safety committee which have been reported indicate that an armed emergency landing were to occur “it would affect the operation of the airport”.
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP Drew Hendry said: “I will be seeking clarification from the MoD about this at the earliest opportunity.
“The absolute priority must be safety for both civilians and RAF crew.
“If fully armed aircraft are now to be permitted to land at a bust and expanding airport like Inverness we must be told why this decision has been made and equally, if it is to go ahead, assurances given about safety for passengers and that this decision has not been made because of defence cuts and RAF base closures.”