Review call after RAF jets report close shave in skies over Mid Wales
Five RAF jets were involved in a close shave over the skies of Mid Wales, a report has revealed.
Three Hawks and two Typhoons were involved in the incident in August 2014, an Air Proximity Board report said.
The near-disaster, which saw the jets fly at high speed within a third of a mile of each other, has prompted calls for a review of entry and exit from the so-called Machynlleth Loop.
The close call happened over Dolgellau, but was on the flight path which goes over Mid and West Wales. Defence minister Mark Lancaster has confirmed a safety review is under way. An Air Proximity Board report into the incident states: "The aircraft were monitoring the UK LL frequency but they did not make an initial low-level entry call.
"Neither of the Typhoon pilots heard any radio calls on the UK LL frequency, with the exception of one garbled call that was unreadable."
On reaching Machynlleth, the lead Typhoon had a minor fuel system issue, which required a gradual climb out of low-level to work through the problem.
"Once the issue had been resolved, the formation re-entered low-level to complete the remaining section of the route," the report added.
"On exiting the 'Machynlleth Loop' they saw a single Hawk to the right of the formation, which passed right-to-left, above and slightly behind them.
"The second Typhoon pilot made an immediate call to the lead pilot on the intra-formation frequency, and stayed low to avoid any further confliction with the Hawk, which was already higher.
"Co-incident with this sighting, the Typhoon pilots heard a call on the UK LL frequency from the Hawks and acknowledged it; this was the first radio call that they had heard on the UK LL."
The report concludes: "It was noted that all of the pilots were keeping a good lookout and that the Hawk and Typhoon pilots had seen each other's aircraft in time to take effective action.
"However, members wondered if it was sensible to have aircraft entering and exiting the 'Machynlleth loop' at the same point given the terrain screening problems that pertained."
