Near-miss reported over Manchester skies

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently reported a near-miss in the skies over Manchester involving a holiday jet. The incident took place in the early evening of March 7th between an Airbus A320 and a light aircraft which landed at Manchester Airport.

The UK Airprox Board has ordered an investigation into the incident and the CAA said that an official report had been filed.

A statement from the CAA read: “The A320 was en-route to Manchester Airport and receiving an air traffic service from the airport. The incident took place at approximately 3,000ft. These details are subject to assessment by the independent UK Airprox Board.”

The report will name the airline involved in the incident, however speculation places easyJet as a likely airline, since easyJet operates A320 planes from Manchester Airport.

Since incidents which are often billed as “near misses” often occur when aircrafts are actually miles a part from each other, the CAA prefers to refer to them as “airprox” incidents.

According to the CAA, an “airprox” occurs when the speed and position of two planes are such that “the safety of the aircraft involved was or may have been compromised”.

In 2006, there were 74 reports of an airprox involving commercial aircraft. Each was investigated and 92 per cent were deemed to have involved no risk of collision.

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