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UK Airprox Board Publishes Thirteenth Report
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Date: 26 July 2005 |
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The thirteenth report of the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) was published today. It covers statistics for all of 2004 together with findings on recorded Airprox incidents within UK airspace between July and December 2004.
During 2004 there were 207 Airprox compared with an average total of 201 over the preceding five years. The proportion of the 207 incidents which were risk-bearing (33 per cent) was the lowest for five years and compares with the five year average of 38 per cent.
Analysis of the data covering Commercial Air Transport aircraft (CAT) between 1995 and 2004, when assessed as a rate per 100,000 flying hours, shows a rate of 0.54 risk-bearing incidents per 100,000 flying hours in 2004 compared with 0.79 in 2003.
During the last six months of 2004 there were 98 incidents in total, nine fewer than the average of comparable figures for the same period in each of the previous five years. There was one risk category A incident involving a CAT aircraft.
Commenting on the latest figures involving Commercial Air Transport aircraft, Peter Hunt, Director of UKAB said: “Notwithstanding the one risk category A Airprox involving a commercial aircraft in the latter half of 2004, the overall story is one of continuous improvement.
“CAT Airprox now account for less than four in ten of all Airprox and the downward trend in the CAT risk-bearing rate continues, which is to be welcomed.
“It has long been part of the aviation safety culture for people to report openly any safety related incident. This openness can bring safety improvements and allows others to learn valuable lessons”.
Produced jointly for the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Air Force, the report is aimed at UK pilots and air traffic controllers, both civil and military. Its purpose is to promote air safety awareness and understanding by sharing the lessons to be learned from UK Airprox incidents.
Notes to editors
The one category A incident involving a CAT aircraft is number 198/04 which occurred on 27 October 2004.
An Airprox is defined as: a situation in which, in the opinion of a pilot or controller, the distance between aircraft, as well as their relative positions and speed, have been such that the safety of the aircraft was, or may have been, compromised.
The UKAB is made up of pilots and controllers. It comprises a Chairman (the Director) and a mix of eight civil and six military members, all acknowledged experts within their fields of aviation. Their expertise covers commercial air transport, General Aviation and military flying (both fixed wing and rotary), along with civil and military air traffic control.
The UKAB does not apportion blame or liability and has no legal powers: its sole aim is to enhance flight safety by assessing what happened in terms of ‘cause’ and ‘risk’ and then raising awareness of the findings within the aviation community. Where appropriate, the UKAB can make specific safety recommendations for changes in procedures or, for instance, the introduction of new equipment.
There are four risk categories agreed at international level, as follows:
A risk of collision an actual risk of collision existed
B safety not assured the safety of the aircraft was compromised
C no risk of collision no risk of collision existed
D risk not determined insufficient information was available to determine the risk involved, or inconclusive or conflicting evidence precluded such determination.
Names or airlines’ identities are not published. Safeguarding anonymity is a deliberate policy to encourage open and honest reporting.
The publication is also available on CD, to enable more flying and ATC units to have access to these compiled reports.
For further information contact Chris Mason on: 0207 453 6026 or the Ministry of Defence Press Office, on: 0207 218 1534.
More information is available on the UKAB website. |
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