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UK Airprox Board Publishes Seventeenth Report
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Date: 24 July 2007 |
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The seventeenth report of the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) was published today. It covers statistics for all of 2006 together with findings on recorded Airprox incidents within UK airspace between July and December 2006.
During the last sixth months of 2006, 81 Airprox were reported and investigated, 22 fewer than the average of comparable figures recorded in each of the previous five years.
During 2006 there was a total of 159 Airprox compared with 188 in 2005. Of these 159 incidents, 74 involved at least one Commercial Air Transport (CAT) aircraft compared with 87 in 2005. Six of the 74 incidents were judged as risk-bearing, the lowest number recorded in the period 1997 to 2006. There were no Category A (actual risk of collision) events involving CAT aircraft recorded in 2006.
“This is a very pleasing result,” said Peter Hunt, Director UKAB. “It is a fitting tribute to all in the CAT segment of the aviation industry – particularly the professional pilots, air traffic controllers and engineers – who continue to strive hard for ever-improving flight safety.
“Similarly, the downward trend in the CAT risk-bearing ‘rate’ continues, the year-on-year improvement moving from 0.52 to 0.37, the CAT Airprox rate per 100,000 hours flown in 2006.
“In conclusion, there was good news on all fronts. The Airprox rates involving military and general aviation aircraft were also down.”
UKAB reports, produced jointly for the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Air Force, are principally aimed at UK pilots and air traffic controllers, both civil and military. Their purpose is to promote air safety awareness and understanding by identifying and sharing the lessons arising from UK Airprox incidents.
The bi-annual UKAB reports are distributed in hardcopy and CD format. They are also downloadable from the UKAB website www.airproxboard.org.uk.
All Airprox reports are also published on the UKAB website some six to eight weeks after assessment by the Airprox Board.
Notes to Editors
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 predominantly of pilots and controllers. It comprises a Chairman (the Director) and a mix of civil and 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 operators’ identities are not published. Disidentification is a deliberate policy to encourage open and honest reporting.
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 www.airproxboard.org.uk
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