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RAF Tornado came within 30ft of microlight in near-miss
An RAF Tornado jet came within 30ft of a microlight plane when neither pilot noticed the other aircraft, a report by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said.
An RAF Tornado jet came within 30ft of a microlight plane according to the CAA The aircraft were so close when the jet's navigator spotted the microlight that they were not able to take any avoiding action and were at "very high risk" of crashing, the investigation found.
The navigator of the Tornado GR4 reported being able to see the microlight pilot's helmet as the aircraft passed in the air 500ft above Monmouth, south Wales, last September.
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Eurofighter has near-miss with private jetThe pilot was also said to be facing forward and the CAA investigators said they were surprised he or she had not been "very startled" by the noise and turbulence from the Tornado.
Despite efforts to trace the microlight and its pilot, they had never been found, the report said.
It added that investigators were "surprised a most serious incident such as this had not become 'folklore' locally and well known in the microlight community".
The report said both pilots had an equal right to operate in the area, and an equal and shared responsibility to see and avoid other aircraft.
It said the Tornado crew had been in a high workload situation and would most likely have been concentrating on looking upwards and outwards.
It was well-known, the report added, that small, slow moving microlights were very difficult to see.
An RAF Tornado jet came within 30ft of a microlight plane when neither pilot noticed the other aircraft, a report by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said.
An RAF Tornado jet came within 30ft of a microlight plane according to the CAA The aircraft were so close when the jet's navigator spotted the microlight that they were not able to take any avoiding action and were at "very high risk" of crashing, the investigation found.
The navigator of the Tornado GR4 reported being able to see the microlight pilot's helmet as the aircraft passed in the air 500ft above Monmouth, south Wales, last September.
Related Articles
Flying enthusiast crashes only flying Hurricane just weeks after buying it
RAF Tornado in near-miss
British Airways jet crash 'caused by ice in fuel'
Polish jet almost crashed after pilot failed to understand English instructions
Hero's death could have been avoided
Eurofighter has near-miss with private jetThe pilot was also said to be facing forward and the CAA investigators said they were surprised he or she had not been "very startled" by the noise and turbulence from the Tornado.
Despite efforts to trace the microlight and its pilot, they had never been found, the report said.
It added that investigators were "surprised a most serious incident such as this had not become 'folklore' locally and well known in the microlight community".
The report said both pilots had an equal right to operate in the area, and an equal and shared responsibility to see and avoid other aircraft.
It said the Tornado crew had been in a high workload situation and would most likely have been concentrating on looking upwards and outwards.
It was well-known, the report added, that small, slow moving microlights were very difficult to see.
