Near Miss

[november whisky 1]

This was in our local paper today thought i share it with you -


RAF fast jets missed each other by just 10 metres in a narrow Gwynedd Valley.

Only swift action by the pilots prevented a head to head smash above the A494 at Rhosdylluan, investigators said yesterday.

The shocking close call was the second high speed air miss investigated by the UK Airprox Board on the same day in June.

In the most dramatic near miss a Hawk T1 was flying with another Hawk at 420knots in a training mission five miles south west of Bala Lake, when they suddenly came head to head with a Harrier GR9, which had rolled out of a turn.

All three pilots broke to their right with the lead Hawk narrowly missing the Harrier, in what was reported as a 10-metre near miss between the aircraft, who were all below radar.

The Hawk pilot described it as a “very high risk” miss and reported it on landing.

Air investigators from the UK Airprox Board said the near miss last June 16, was caused by a “conflict” in the UK Day Low Flying System (UKDLFS), which is run by the Low Flying Operations Squadron.

The Board said safety had been compromised but praised the pilots for their swift action to avoid an air smash.

Hours earlier there was an incident at exactly the same location between a Hawk T1 and F15 jet fighter, which came within 1,000 metres of each other.

That was also investigated by the UK Airprox Board but they said prompt action by the pilots ensured safety had not been compromised.

The two incidents came just months after a nine-metre near miss over Anglesey by two RAF Valley Hawks last December.

A report into the June incidents found in the more serious incident the pilots would only have had around four seconds to see the aircraft and react. The maximum distance they’d have had to see each other was one nautical mile.

The Ministry of Defence said: “The RAF takes all air incidents very seriously and conducts thorough investigations whenever an incident occurs.

“Recent experience in conflict has reconfirmed the need for our aircrew to be trained in a range of flying skills if they are to do their job and survive.

“There is therefore a continuing requirement for aircrew to train regularly at low level.”

[POL]

Someone didn't perform their clearing right turn before climbing away then!

[RichC]

Thread merged

[POL]

Don't need this now then

[Blackcat1]

Too many flyboys wanting their picture taken in the loop?