The UK Airprox Board’s primary objective is to enhance flight safety in the UK, in particular in respect of lessons to be learned and applied from Airprox occurrences reported within UK airspace.
To emphasise both the scope of its work and its independence, UKAB is sponsored jointly – and funded equally – by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The sole objective of the UK Airprox Board is to assess reported Airprox in the interests of enhancing flight safety. It is not the purpose of the Board to apportion blame or liability. To encourage an open and honest reporting environment, names of companies and individuals are not published in UKAB's reports.
Our website is intended to contribute to the UK’s continuing drive to enhance flight safety. Details of specific Airprox events are provided together with ‘lessons identified’ and action flowing from UKAB Safety Recommendations. Our publications can be accessed through this site: subject to our copyright notice, please use these for flight safety purposes. We also use our website to provide general background information regarding UKAB and its activities.
An Airprox is a situation in which, in the opinion of a pilot or a controller, the distance between aircraft as well as their relative positions and speed have been such that the safety of the aircraft involved was or may have been compromised.
The most immediate benefit accrues to those involved in each Airprox event. Pilots and controllers each receive their own full copy of the Board's final report which sets out what happened and why. Final reports are disidentified to encourage open and honest reporting. All language of blame is avoided and instead, straightforward statements are made on what took place with the emphasis placed on identifying lessons of benefit to all. Safety Recommendations are made where appropriate, aimed at reducing the risk of recurrence of a particular Airprox.
Twice a year, the UKAB's findings for a six-month period are compiled and distributed in both book and CD format, throughout the UK (civil and military) aviation community. These reports are also available on this website. The aim is to raise awareness and understanding by sharing widely the unfortunate experiences of the few for the benefit of the many. Finally, an analysis of UK Airprox numbers, rates and trends is produced - also available in the twice-yearly books/CDs and through this website.
Please e-mail contact@airproxboard.org.uk with questions or comments about this website.
Last updated: 10 April 2008
