A FLYING instructor at Perth Airport feared another aircraft was going to collide with his on landing, Perth Sheriff Court heard yesterday.

Luke Cassar was so concerned that he took over the controls from his student as a plane behind him was gaining on them and heading for the same runway.

Mr Cassar was giving evidence at the trial of Joseph Drury (21), of Squires Gates Lane, Blackpool, who denies all the charges he faces.

It is alleged that on July 14 last year, as the pilot of a Piper PA31 at Perth Airport, he recklessly acted in a manner likely to endanger the aircraft, people or property.

In particular it is alleged he elected to land on runway 27 which was too short to enable the aircraft to land safely, despite having been offered the longer runway 21, and as a result he was unable to stop and had to execute a sharp turn.

On the same day, it was claimed he took off from runway 27, which was too short, despite having been offered the longer runway 21 and as a result the aircraft had insufficient height to clear trees in its path and thus he had to take avoiding action.

Other charges relate to the following day when Drury is said to have endangered his aircraft by landing directly behind a Cessna 152 aircraft.

Describing the latter of the incidents, Mr Cassar explained he was on a final approach to runway 21 with a student, who was flying the aircraft.

He said, “We were on our final approach and the other plane was flying parallel. I thought he turned a little bit early. The danger being he would catch us up, being a faster (twin engine) aircraft.

“I was aware of him getting closer and I thought it was going to be close. I took control of the plane from the student to get the airplane out of the way.

“I wanted to get it off the ground so there was no risk of colliding. I felt uneasy about the situation. My thought was to get the airplane off the ground as quickly as possible so the aircraft didn’t catch us up and collide.”

Describing another of the incidents, Mr Cassar said that the same plane was landing and elected to use the shorter runway 27.

Again Mr Cassar was flying with a student and he looked out for the other plane and saw it land on runway 27 and turn on to runway 21.

He observed, “He turned the corner a little bit quickly.”

Later on that day Mr Cassar was in the control tower at Perth Airport when a plane elected to take off on runway 27.

He recalled, “He didn’t appear to climb well, then turned left and climbed out through a clearing in the trees.

“You would hope most airplanes would climb above the trees. He turned left and went through the clearing in the trees. It was quite frightening to watch as there were trees either side of the aircraft and it was below the level of the trees.”

Mr Cassar said the reason for him being frightened was the possibility of the aircraft colliding with the trees.

Investigating officer for the Civil Aviation Authority Peter Last was contacted about the incidents and subsequently interviewed four people at Perth Airport, as well as Drury himself.

Drury denied any wrong-doing.

Under cross-examination by Mark Stewart, QC for the defence, Mr Last admitted, “Technically the aircraft was quite capable of landing on that runway and taking off.”

The trial was adjourned until December 8.