§ 2.45 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF KINNOULLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make a statement on the "near-miss" between a B.O.A.C. VC1O and an El Al Boeing 707 over Epsom on Tuesday, November 11.]
1182§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, at 15.15 B.S.T. on Tuesday, November 11, a B.O.A.C. VC.10 aircraft, G-ASGD en route to Heathrow Airport from Teheran, via Zurich, had an air-miss with an El Al Boeing 720 aircraft 4XABB leaving for Tel Aviv via Munich The incident took place three or four miles North of the radio beacon near Stoke d'Abernon which marks the Epsom holding area for aircraft approaching Heathrow from the South. Air Traffic Control had cleared the VC.10 to leave the holding area at FL70 on a North-Easterly course and the Boeing to cross the beacon marking the holding area at FL60, thus providing the standard thousand feet separation. The aircraft were flying in Instrument Meteorological Conditions at the time in turbulent air and in cloud of varying intensity. The pilots saw each other in close proximity and took avoiding action. Three people in the Boeing received minor injuries but were not detained on their journey. No one in the VC.10 was hurt. The Chief Inspector of Accidents has initiated an inspector's investigation. An accedited representative of the Israeli authorities is participating, and a report will be published in due course.
§ THE EARL OF KINNOULLMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that detailed statement, may I say that I am sure many Members of this House and people outside will be glad to hear that the report of the investigation will be published. To some extent I am sure it will alleviate the wide concern at this incident. Can the noble Lord say how many such incidents have occurred in the last twelve months?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, first, I am glad to think that the noble Earl approves of the fact that this report will be published. I am sure that in this matter full information provides one way of keeping the public not only informed but appreciative of the right perspective involved. In that connection, I am pleased to tell the noble Earl that in the year up to August, 1968, only seven of the incidents that were reported to the Working Group were believed to have involved an actual risk; in the year up to August, 1969, there were only three. This, against the context of 600,000 aircraft movements in a year, puts the matter in a different perspective.