Level of near-misses lowest in six years

ONLY three near-miss incidents involving aircraft in Irish airspace were recorded during 2006 — the lowest level since the start of the decade.

Figures from the Irish Aviation Authority show that a total of 68 incidents, of what are officially termed “air proximity occurrences”, have occurred since 2000.

However, two of last year’s incidents were assessed as having involved no risk of collision, while one other reported case has still to be formally classified.