Helicopter and aeroplane narrowly avoid collision at Doncaster airport

The ‘near miss’ on August 2, 2019, involved an R22 helicopter taking off, and a two seater aeroplane flying a circuit around the airport at a busy time, and prompted an investigation by industry experts.

At the same time, a passenger jet was waiting to take off, and a second aeroplane was also flying circuits around the airport.

The report, published by the UK Airprox Board, said the helicopter pilot, teaching a student, was cleared to take off. His student spotted the plane below.

It stated a Doncaster investigation noted a bottleneck that should be used with caution for departing helicopters.

A standards bulletin would be issued to all controllers reminding them about the need for traffic information about planes circling the airport; to be cautious when using the point where the near miss happened for departing helicopters; and to consider limiting the number of circling planes to one during busy periods, or when commercial traffic is departing.

It added: “Controllers should not be afraid to control defensively, for example by holding training aircraft at ‘parking’ during busy times.”

The panel said the helicopter pilot may have needed to have a look around as well as taking the controller’s clearance, and the aeroplane pilot could have listened to the controller’s message to the helicopter.

It added: “Turning to the role of the aerodrome controller, members noted he was extremely busy with circuit traffic that needed orbiting due to inbounds, aircraft with timed slots to achieve, and taxiway inspections, any one of which would require careful attention on its own.”

It said the controller had given the helicopter immediate clearance to take off to remove it as a factor while an E175 passenger jet was taxiing along the runway, but with hindsight, holding the E175 on the runway may have prevented the possible collision.

The report stated: “In assessing the risk, the board agreed that the final separation of 400ft had largely been achieved by chance because of the R22’s climb. However, this was considered sufficient to mean that, although safety had been degraded, there had been no risk of collision.”