Alot can happen up there if you ignore simple everyday tasks. Having a clean windscreen is critical.
The U.S. Air Force has urged its pilots to keep their cockpit windows clean after a series of near misses with civilian aircraft.
USAF F-15 jets based at RAF Lakenheath in southeastern Engand were involved in 19 near-misses with U.K. aircraft in the past five years, according to figures from the U.K Airprox Board, which is responsible for British airspace safety, obtained by the BBC.
The warning comes after a pair of F-15’s avoided collision with a glider over England when a pilot of one of the aircraft spotted the glider using his eyesight rather than a radar. The Airprox Board praised the pilot for his look-out skills.
A July report revealed that two ASAF F-15s had come within 50 metres of an RAF refueling plane over the coast of Norfolk, narrowly avoiding a collision.
About 360 near misses involving U.K. or U.S. military aircraft have been recorded by the Aprox Board in the last five years.
The USAF said that not only was there increased traffic in airspace, but smaller civilian aircraft were not fitted with transponders, which make them visible to radar. USAF aircraft based at RAF Lakenheath also operate on a different radio frequency to civilian aircraft.
The USAF has told its pilots to keep a look out for aircraft—and ensure their windscreens are kept clean.
A USAF spokesman said: “Sometimes little things like keeping your screen clean can make the difference.
“Safety is always a priority for our pilots, who are trained to maintain a vigilant state of situational awareness at all times.
“The airspace above the United Kingdom remains busy and complex, but we are confident the risk of airprox (air proximity) events is minimized by our continuous training, consistent focus on flight safety and our direct communication with Royal Air Force and…