SCAA narrowly avoided collision

Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance was involved in a near-miss with a glider over Perthshire in March this year, it has been revealed.

The emergency helicopter, based at Scone, was returning from taking a patient to Glasgow when it was found to be on a collision course with the motorised glider over Forteviot.

Thankfully, the SCAA pilot took evasive action in time, despite a windscreen pillar having obscured the glider just moments before.

Air investigators have issued a response to the incident at 2.20pm on March 25 this year, and saw the two aircraft miss each other by 200 metres.

The so-called Airprox report also showed that neither the pilot or the motorised glider could be traced by investigators.

The UK Airprox Board this week issued a report on the incident, noting the build-up to the incident and the circumstances which in other areas may have been avoided.

The green, yellow and blue coloured SCAA helicopter had been flying at 2700ft, on a“gentle descent”when the incident happened. As the flight was back to base, staff on board were carrying out regular checks ahead of landing.

During this descent the SCAA pilot noted“a Schiebe-Falke SF25, appeared from behind the windscreen pillar, slightly below the 10-11 o’clock position, head-on and on a converging course.

“He manoeuvred to the right and he saw the motor glider also turn away and pass down the left-hand side, 200m laterally and 25ft vertically.”

The pilot assessed the risk of collision as high. UKAB classed the degree of risk as B.

It also stated that a collision warning system was not on the charity air ambulance. Some of the UKAB members felt that the helicopter, because of its likelihood of encountering gliders during its callouts, could install such a system or similar.

And it was noted that Perth Aerodrome does not have radar equipment which could have warned of the glider being nearby.

SCAA chief executive David Craig said:“We are currently reviewing the report and the observations and recommendations contained within it.

“I am meeting with our aviation providers - Babcock Mission Critical Services (Onshore) Ltd. later this week to determine what steps, if any, we should be taking in response to this incident and the report findings.”