Minimum distance?

[Ijineda]

On a recent flight to Dublin we encountered a Eva Air Cargo MD-11 over Amsterdam heading the opposite direction. It was so damn close that I could have read the Reg if it wouldnt have passed that fast. So I

[C]

[quote]On a recent flight to Dublin we encountered a Eva Air Cargo MD-11 over Amsterdam heading the opposite direction. It was so damn close that I could have read the Reg if it wouldnt have passed that fast. So I

[Nexus]

From our (Sweden) AIP

"3.0.8  AREA NAVIGATION (RNAV)

Note 32. It is recommended that operators, who have equipment flying with "off-set" function, use OFF-SET RIGHT 0.1 NM when flying enroute on ATS-routes in order to reduce the risk of mid-air collision (NOT to be used during Approach/STAR or Departure/SID phases of flight)"

Might shed some lights on the issue. Not sure how often operators actually do this  :-?

[ozzy72]

A bit like the old joke "A guy and his wife are flying off on holiday when there is a huge scream from most of the people in the plane, the husband turns to the wife and says 'I think we just had a near miss but I'm not sure as another plane got between us!'"

[C]

From our (Sweden) AIP

"3.0.8  AREA NAVIGATION (RNAV)

Note 32. It is recommended that operators, who have equipment flying with "off-set" function, use OFF-SET RIGHT 0.1 NM when flying enroute on ATS-routes in order to reduce the risk of mid-air collision (NOT to be used during Approach/STAR or Departure/SID phases of flight)"

Might shed some lights on the issue. Not sure how often operators actually do this  :-?

Sounds very sensible. I can't say I've ever seen anything similar in the UK AIP, but then again my time flying SID/STARS and Airways is relatively little...

[Spartan03]

I don't know what the distance is for aircraft traveling side by side, (as in your description) i do know that (im guessing you were on a heavy aircraft) heavy aircraft cannot be any closer than 4nm behind each other because of jetwash concerns.

[AA]

I know that in the US above FL290, the minimum seperation between two aircraft is 5nm within 2000ft. Not sure if the rule is different in Europe or not, but I am sure that it probably similar.

[Nexus]

I know that in the US above FL290, the minimum seperation between two aircraft is 5nm within 2000ft. Not sure if the rule is different in Europe or not, but I am sure that it probably similar.

Aren't the yanks deploying RVSM throughout their country  (like Europe)?
If you, then I'm afraid you're not updated  :D
What you described used to the old separation minimas, but RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minima)has shrunk it to just 1000ft between east and westbounds.

I'm not american so I'm not 100% sure, but I do know that US has some RVSM airspace, and probably their whole horisontal UTA coverage  :-?

[MWISimmer]

I was under the impression that Eastbound and Westbound flight levels are odd and even numbers.. or is that just the North Atlantic track?

[C]

I was under the impression that Eastbound and Westbound flight levels are odd and even numbers.. or is that just the North Atlantic track?

Semi circular rule in the upper airspace. Basically odd FLs from 000 to 179deg mag track (eg FL250), even FLs 180 to 359deg (eg FL260).

The Quadrantal rule is used in the lower airspace (000-089: odd (eg FL50); 090-179: odd+500' (eg FL55); 180-269: even (eg FL60); 270-359: even+500' (eg FL65))

[Jakemaster]

A bit like the old joke "A guy and his wife are flying off on holiday when there is a huge scream from most of the people in the plane, the husband turns to the wife and says 'I think we just had a near miss but I'm not sure as another plane got between us!'"

Huh?  I don't get it....

If I made the rules for flying:  All planes must stay far enough apart not to hit each other.  There, everyone's happy!

[MWISimmer]

Semi circular rule in the upper airspace. Basically odd FLs from 000 to 179deg mag track (eg FL250), even FLs 180 to 359deg (eg FL260).

The Quadrantal rule is used in the lower airspace (000-089: odd (eg FL50); 090-179: odd+500' (eg FL55); 180-269: even (eg FL60); 270-359: even+500' (eg FL65))

So I was half right then..

[Nick N]

George Carlin

Jammin' in New York, 1992

Here's one they just made up: "near miss". When two planes almost collide, they call it a near miss.

Dont let them fool you, It's a near hit.


A collision is a near miss.

[AA]

[quote]
Aren't the yanks deploying RVSM throughout their country