UK Airprox Board publishes twenty first report

During the last six months of 2008, 68 Airprox were reported and investigated, 22 fewer than the average of comparable figures recorded in each of the previous five years.

During 2008 there was a total of 155 Airprox compared with 154 in 2007. Of these, 61 involved at least one Commercial Air Transport (CAT) aircraft compared with 65 in 2007. Two of the 61 incidents were judged as risk-bearing, the lowest number recorded in the period 1999 to 2008. There were no Category A (actual risk of collision) events involving CAT aircraft recorded in 2008.

Peter Hunt, Director of UKAB, said: “This is a very pleasing result. 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 0.31 to 0.12, the latter being the CAT Airprox rate per 100,000 hours flown in 2008.

“In 2008, rates for Airprox involving general aviation aircraft were at figures comparable to 2007 whilst those for military aircraft returned to 2006 levels.”

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.





 (c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 23-Jul-09