LISTEN: Watchdog Collision Warning Call For Lossie Planes

The Military Aviation Authority report says the lack of a warning system on aircraft was 'unsustainable'.

Published 14th Jan 2015

Collision warning systems must be fitted to the RAF's Typhoons, according to a watchdog.

The Military Aviation Authority report follows 2 Tornados crashing into each other in 2012.

3 people lost their lives over the Moray Firth.

The lack of such equipment on Tornado aircraft was deemed a key factor in the collision.

A report by the regulator said non installation was ‘unsustainable‘ and needed to be addressed with ‘full haste’.

SNP Westminster Leader and Defence Spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP - whose constituency includes RAF Lossiemouth, home of Tornados and now Typhoons said: “This is a hugely damning report for the MoD. Twenty years after it was proven and recommended that these systems would save lives they remain to this day uninstalled.

"It is clear that the MoD with its cavalier approach to safety has learned no lessons as it has not even made the systems mandatory on new fast jets it acquires, while it drags its feet installing them on the ones they use already. “The Director General is right to say that there is unnecessary risk – which includes an unthinkable collision with a civilian airliner – and the MoD have known this for decades and have done far too little.

"Importantly this report lends even more weight to the calls for a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the tragic collision in July 2012.

"The buck is continuing to be passed – it must stop and those who are responsible for this sorry and dangerous saga are held fully to account.”

MFR Reporter Derek Ferguson speaks with SNP Defence spokesperson and Moray MP, Angus Robertson...