Three near misses at Robin Hood Airport
14.10.05
Investigators are probing three more 'near misses' involving aircraft using Doncaster's Robin Hood airport. The latest incidents announced by the Civil Aviation Authority take the number of such reports to seven since the airport opened in April.
The most recent - known as an Aircraft Proximity (Airprox) report - involved a Boeing 757 and a light aircraft. It took place eight miles south west of the airport on August 7 at 15:45 when the jet was heading to Doncaster and flying at about 4000 feet.
A second report had been made about a week earlier involving a Boeing 737 and another light aircraft. It was described as happening near the airport on July 30 at 16:40, again at around 4000 feet.
The third report involving a Boeing 737 and a civil aircraft two miles north of the Finningley runway on July 23 at 16:44. The 737 was on its way to Alicante and was flying at around 1600 feet. Each case is being investigated by the independent UK Airprox Board (UKAB).
A spokesman for Robin Hood airport said: 'Airprox reports are for the UK Airprox Board to address; the facts are with the UKAB, not with an airport. It would be quite wrong to speculate what the outcome of UKAB investigations might be.'
Small airfields near the airport say they are not concerned over the airport or the number of near misses. Geoff McPhail, manager at Sandtoft airfield, said he had no concerns at all. The airport liaises with Finningley's radar unit and air traffic control, he said.
