Steps have been taken to improve communications between RAF Leuchars and Dundee airport after a light aircraft on a training flight came within 150 feet of a mid-air collision with a Tornado fighter jet.
The incident occurred three miles south-west of Montrose on October 6 and disaster was only averted when the instructor reduced the Piper Cherokee’s altitude by 600 feet so the Tornado flew harmlessly over it.
An investigation by the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) found the Tornado pilot had not even seen the small plane and only found out about his near-miss six weeks later.
The RAF Lossiemouth pilot was on a training exercise with another Tornado when the incident occurred. The Cherokee instructor spotted the Tornado a mile and a half away and realised that its flight path would cross his.
He took control of the plane and took evasive action, dropping from 2000ft to 1400ft so the Tornado passed 150ft overhead.
As radar in the area above the former aerodrome at Kennell is poor, pilots are responsible for avoiding collisions through “see and avoid” tactics.
The report into the near-miss stated, “There are known limitations with see and avoid operations in Class G airspace, and this may well be another example where two aircraft came quite close without being visual.”
They concluded that the incident should be given a B rating, which means that the safety of the aircraft was compromised.
Tayside Aviation managing director Jim Watt said his pilot “would have got a bit of a fright” but that measures have been put in place to reduce the risk of a similar incident happening.
He said, “I haven’t actually seen the report, but 150ft that’s close. The Montrose corridor is often used by jets involved in low-flying exercises, and also for training flights, so it’s a popular space.
“There are now protocols in place with RAF Leuchars and Dundee air traffic control to minimise these occurrences.”
A Leuchars spokesman said, “We had a meeting to look at where we can improve communication.”
A Lossiemouth plane was also involved in another near-miss when a Typhoon pilot mistook a helicopter for an “enemy target” in a training exercise.
The Super Puma EC225 was carrying oil workers back to the mainland from the Foinaven BP oil field when they were passed by the Typhoon.
The pilot later apologised and said he thought the helicopter was a military vehicle pretending to be an enemy drone.
In its report on the incident, UKAB said there had been no chance of a collision.