Inside Out or Outside In? What Kind of Pilot Should You Be?

Use all of your tools to spot nearby traffic.

Amy Laboda

Wednesday, February 02, 2022 at 11:48 AM ET

Verified

[Photo: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

A recent poll revealed that a majority of pilots (65%) rely solely on visual scanning for collision avoidance in the traffic pattern, often neglecting onboard traffic-spotting equipment like ADS-B.
The author emphasizes the critical importance of utilizing all available tools, including ADS-B, for collision avoidance in congested airspace, as visual scanning alone has limitations and blind spots.
Effective pilot training and safe flight operations require a balanced approach, integrating both inside-cockpit (instrumentation) and outside-cockpit (visual) cues throughout all phases of flight.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Perusing the internet, as I often do with my first—OK, maybe second—cup of coffee in the morning, I came across a Q&A poll on a website that stopped me cold. It asked: When flying in the airport traffic pattern, do you use onboard equipment to locate other aircraft?

The poll showed that of pilots who answered the question, 34 percent (more than 2,100 individuals) answered yes. This was in contrast to the 65 percent (more than 4,000) who said no, they only scan visually in the pattern.