Avoiding Midairs

Stephen Pope

Tuesday, November 05, 2013 at 11:54 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Mid-air collisions can occur at any angle, altitude, or time, but are more common near airports and at lower altitudes where standard cruising rules don't apply.
The most critical method to prevent mid-air collisions is constant visual vigilance ("head on a swivel") for other traffic, particularly in terminal areas.
While onboard traffic advisory systems can be a valuable aid, they are not foolproof and should not replace diligent visual scanning, as other aircraft may lack or have their transponders off.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The stunning video of a collision between a pair of Cessna jump planes over Superior, Wisconsin, a few days ago serves as a vivid reminder to always be vigilant for traffic whenever we go flying.

For some reason new pilots seem to think that a midair collision is most likely to occur in a head-on situation with an airplane coming right at them. Accident statistics show that’s rarely the case. Indeed, a collision can happen at any angle, at any altitude, at any time of day and just about anywhere.