HC Deb 19 June 1991 vol 193 cc235-6W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was(a) the height and (b) the risk category of the APHAZ that occurred on 4 July 1989, reported by a controller when a Tornado infringed the Humberside airport zone; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The three aircraft involved were flying at heights of between approximately 1,500 and 2,000 ft, and the incident was assessed as category C—no risk of collision.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was(a) the height and (b) the risk category of the air miss on 27 November 1989, involving an SA365 helicopter and two A 10s holding for Donna Nook range area; what were the findings of the joint airmiss working group; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The aircraft involved were flying at heights of between approximately 2,000 and 2,500 ft, and the air miss was assessed as category C—no risk of collision. The joint airmiss working group concluded that one of the A10 pilots flew sufficiently close to the helicopter to cause its pilot concern for the safety of his aircraft.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was(a) the height and (b) the risk category of the air miss in August, 1988 involving a Cherokee and some A10s near the Cowden range; what were the findings of the joint airmiss working group; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The aircraft involved were flying at a height of approximately 2,500 ft and the air miss was assessed as category C—no risk of collision. The joint airmiss working group concluded that the Cherokee pilot had inadvertently penetrated the Cowden weapons range danger area.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was(a) the height and (b) the risk category of the air miss on 22 November 1989 involving an S76 helicopter and a USAF F111 in the Rough gas field area; what were the findings of the joint airmiss working group; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The aircraft involved were flying at heights of between approximately 700 and 1,000 ft, and the air miss was assessed as category B—possible risk of collision. The joint airmiss working group concluded that the cause of the air miss was the failure of the F111 pilot to see the helicopter in time to give adequate way, compounded by the failure of the helicopter pilot to fly at the recommended level.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was(a) the height and (b) the risk category of the APHAZ reported by a controller on 15 August 1989 when a Tornado aircraft infringed the Humberside airport zone; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The aircraft involved were flying at a height of approximately 700 ft, and the incident was assessed category C—no risk of collision.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was(a) the height and (b) the risk category of the air miss on 10 May 1989, involving a foreign F16 and a S76 helicopter in the West Sole gas field area; what were the findings of the joint air miss working group; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The aircraft involved were flying at a height of approximately 200 ft, and the air miss was assessed as category C—no risk of collision. The joint airmiss working group concluded that elements of the military aircraft formation had made an unauthorised penetration of the West Sole helicopter protection zone.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was(a) the height and (b) the risk category of the air miss on 13 June 1990, involving a Bell 212 helicopter and a Tornado aircraft 25 miles east of the Humber estuary; what were the findings of the joint air miss working group; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The aircraft involved were flying at a height of approximately 1,000 ft and the air miss was assessed category C—no risk of collision. The joint airmiss working group concluded that there had been a conflict of flightpaths.

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