Is See-And-Avoid Dead?

The NTSBs recent Safety Alert suggests pilots should consider increased use of technological solutions to help prevent midair collisions. The NTSB is encouraging pilots and aircraft owners to adopt and use capabilities like ADS-B Ins free traffic information service, otherwise known as TIS-B. Ive been flying with TIS-B for a couple of years now and theres no question it identifies nearby traffic. When I recently installed an L-3 Lynx NGT-9000 ADS-B In/Out transponder in my airplane, having TIS-B front and center was a key reason I had the shop mount the new box high in the avionics stack instead of at the bottom where my previous transponder lived.

Editorial Staff

Friday, January 06, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB encourages pilots to adopt technological solutions like ADS-B In's TIS-B to help prevent midair collisions, acknowledging the limitations of traditional "see-and-avoid" methods.
Traditional "see-and-avoid" has inherent limitations due to human factors, environmental conditions, aircraft blind spots, and operational distractions, leaving pilots vulnerable.
Despite advancements in technology, "see-and-avoid" is not obsolete; it remains a critical and frequently used method that has prevented countless conflicts.
Pilots should utilize all available tools, combining both technological aids (like TIS-B and TCAS) and diligent "see-and-avoid" practices, to enhance aviation safety against midair collisions.

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In the Quick Turns section of this month’s issue is a news item on the NTSB’s recent Safety Alert, which suggests pilots should consider increased use of technological solutions as to help prevent midair collisions. The NTSB is encouraging pilots and aircraft owners to adopt and use capabilities like ADS-B In’s free traffic information service, otherwise known as TIS-B.

I’ve been flying with TIS-B for a couple of years now and there’s no question it identifies nearby traffic. When I recently installed an L-3 Lynx NGT-9000 ADS-B In/Out transponder in my airplane, having TIS-B front and center was a key reason I had the shop mount the new box high in the avionics stack instead of at the bottom where my previous transponder lived. After a recent cross-country flight in my plane with two other pilots who were unfamiliar with TIS-B, they both expressed surprise at the nearby traffic the system identified, aircraft they likely wouldn’t have spotted otherwise.