When the world’s most advanced fighter jets are hurtling towards potential disaster, it takes quick thinking to save the day.
And that’s what Corporal Scott Brown did when he picked up a flare gun and fired it at an approaching F-35 to stop it from landing at RAF Lossiemouth, one of the UK’s Quick Reaction Alert bases.
Problems began when an oil spill meant that all air traffic had to divert from the usual Runway 23 to the less used Runway 28.
And it was going to be a busy Saturday, with five Typhoon jets which form part of the QRA scheduled to land In addition to the two visiting F-35s.
The F-35s had already begun their approach and all was going smoothly – when suddenly Cpl Brown spotted a flock of birds flying across the runway.
Though they are rarely fatal, bird strikes can cause considerable damage to aircraft, which can be expensive and debilitating, keeping aircraft grounded and dysfunctional.
Lossiemouth is no stranger to the threat because its coastal location means there are a high number of corvids and seagulls in the vicinity of the RAF base, and every winter, around 10,000 geese arrive in Findhorn Bay.
In fact, so concerned were top brass at RAF Lossiemouth that they had even installed a special Bird Detection System Radar.
It did not help on this occasion, however, and as he watched the lead F-35 approach, Cpl Brown suddenly realised a collision was imminent.
Showing his reactions were as quick as a RAF Typhoon scrambling to intercept a Russian aircraft approaching British airspace, he grabbed a Verey flare gun and fired it at the leading fighter jet.
Its pilot got the message, and Cpl Brown received a Safety award.
Recalling the event, the 30-year-old from Livingston, said: “I spotted a large flock of birds flying across the approach to the runway just as a pair of RAF Lightning F-35Bs were making their approach.”
“The pilots were told about the possibility of birds but, as they flew closer, it became clear that a bird strike was likely.”
“I needed to tell the pilots to abort their landing in as direct and quick a way as possible, so I launched the red flare.”
He added: “I was delighted with recognition from the RAF Safety Centre but, in all honesty, I was just doing my job and was essentially acting on instinct.”
Air Commodore Dai Whittingham, ceo of the UK Flight Safety Committee, said: ”Lossiemouth’s Bird Detection System cannot work every time, and I know only too well how a bird strike can be fatal – a friend of mine was killed by one at nearby RAF Kinloss in the 1980s.”
“In this case it is possible that the flock of birds had been on the ground presenting no threat until it was suddenly startled.”
He added:“The RAF should be praised that it continues to employ runway controllers like Cpl Brown , who are there to spot any unforeseen problems with aircraft about to to take off or land.
“He was rightly recognised for spotting a potential problem, making the right connection and taking quick action – others may not have.”
