Misunderstanding-controller distraction caused near miss

On January 5th, a US F-15 passed within 160 feet of an RAF Voyager tanker off the English coast. The F-15 was close enough that the tanker crew felt the turbulence from the afterburners as the Eagle pilot tried to avoid a collision. The Voyager had just completed refueling two RAF fighters.

Multiple factors have been identified as leading to the near disaster. The F-15 pilots hadn't been notified before launching that there would be tanker operations in the area, the controller thought that the F-15s were somewhere else. They reported entering the Wash area, which one of the controllers thought meant the Wash geographic area, not the aerial tactics range. Because they were thought to be somewhere else, the controller responsible for the area took a phone call that distracted him.

www.telegraph.co.uk...

originally posted by: Zaphod58
On January 5th, a US F-15 passed within 160 feet of an RAF Voyager tanker off the English coast. The F-15 was close enough that the tanker crew felt the turbulence from the afterburners as the Eagle pilot tried to avoid a collision. The Voyager had just completed refueling two RAF fighters.

Multiple factors have been identified as leading to the near disaster. The F-15 pilots hadn't been notified before launching that there would be tanker operations in the area, the controller thought that the F-15s were somewhere else. They reported entering the Wash area, which one of the controllers thought meant the Wash geographic area, not the aerial tactics range. Because they were thought to be somewhere else, the controller responsible for the area took a phone call that distracted him.

www.telegraph.co.uk...

It's worse than I thought then. Just yesterday the head of the UK ATC says they are heading for disaster with outdated equipment and overstretched personnel. That's a big speak for someone in charge, and it's only a few years since the separation heights were lowered. That along with the type of incident here, and now drones, (from any source really) is a bit scary.

Yes, drones don't perform the first rule we're taught when going for the private ticket....


See and be seen......

So as to say in British a right royal f--- up has happened and assuming the pilots are male their genitals to be put on the table and play with a meat tenderizer