Budget flights 'pose collision risk'
From the BBC
Budget airlines are posing a heightened risk of mid-air collisions,
according to a report by air traffic controllers.
The report by the Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers (Gatco)
claims no-frills services are flying in skies with no controlled
airspace.
It says "hotspots" include Birmingham, Coventry and Doncaster
airports and Kent International Airport at Manston.
Gatco claims it is an oversight by the Civil Aviation Authority but
the CAA says it constantly reviews airspace.
Jonathan Nicholson, Civil Aviation Authority
The report, seen by the BBC, is due to be published on Monday, and
claims the situation is "an accident waiting to happen".
It outlines the rise in budget services operating from the four
airports and claims that areas around the sites could see flights
flying in uncontrolled airspace.
At Birmingham Airport, bmibaby has announced plans to serve up to 20
destinations while Thomsonfly has begun operating from nearby
Coventry Airport.
But the report claims there is no controlled airspace linking either
Birmingham or Coventry Airport with the UK national airway system
towards south Wales.
At Kent International Airport at Manston, EU Jet plans to fly to 21
destinations and aims to carry 500,000 passengers a year, the report
says.
'Paramount importance'
Gatco said it was supportive of airport expansion but was concerned
about the risks where aircraft were flying in uncontrolled
airspaces.
Richard Dawson, from Gatco, said: "The vast majority of UK airports
such Gatwick have "controlled" airspace around them.
"But Manston is outside controlled airspace because it is not as
developed as others.
"At Manston operations are starting without controlled airspace
being put in place.
"The concern is that collision risk is heightened at Manston as more
flights are starting to operate there without controlled airspace in
place."
'Few commercial movements'
Jonathan Nicholson, from the Civil Aviation Authority, said: "We
constantly review airspace and if there is a safety requirement at
one particular airport we will introduce it.
"We have a legal requirement that all UK airspace users are treated
equally - you cannot just shut off airspace.
"Manston has very few commercial air movements - if they gain
considerable movements we would certainly look at controlled
airspace as an option.
"The UK has one of the lowest rate of near misses in the world and
this figures is actually falling at a time when movements are
increasing."
A Birmingham Airport spokesperson, said: "All operations are
sanctioned under licence by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
through their Directorate of Airspace Policy.
"Birmingham operates within controlled airspace and all flights
receive the appropriate air traffic control service.
"Any operations outside of the Birmingham controlled zone are a
matter for the CAA and the airline concerned.
"Aircraft safety is of paramount importance to us and at no stage
would we allow our passengers to be put at increased risk."