Safety warning after near miss between US fighter and RAF helicopter

 Ambiguous air safety guidance for pilots flying in Snowdonia must be changed after a near miss between a US fighter jet and RAF helicopter, officials have said.

A US Air Force F-15 jet came within an estimated 400ft of an RAF Griffin helicopter in July after it turned into the wrong mountain pass. The incident left the helicopter having to take “immediate evasive action” to avoid the Lakenheath-based jet.

An investigation by the UK Airprox Board found the US pilot had flown into Llanberis Pass after mistaking it for the adjacent Nant Ffrancon Pass.

But the board concluded that as well as the navigation error, there was confusion about the guidance for flying in the area. The board agreed that “this situation was clearly not desirable, with helicopters being operated in close proximity to mountainous terrain, potentially with underslung loads or crew”.

It continued that “The Snowdonia Mountain Flying Training Area (MFTA) regulation did not appear to provide sufficient guidance to assure safe operation between helicopters and fast jets”.

The report also highlighted possible confusion over guidance that says planes “should not” – rather than “shall not” – go down the Llanberis Pass. The board recommended that Assistant Chief of Air Staff “review the wording of the regulation covering use of low flying system airspace in the vicinity of the Snowdonia MFTA”.

The US Air Force said the F-15 pilot had been “thoroughly debriefed on the importance of maintaining positional awareness and flying in accordance with local established flying procedures”.

Lt Elias Small, spokesman for the US 48th Fighter Wing, said: “Our pilots train every day to improve their skills, and they understand the importance of adhering to local UK flying procedures.”