Avoiding Midairs

Stephen Pope

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

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Midair collisions can occur at any angle, altitude, or time, not just head-on, with a higher likelihood near airports and at lower altitudes.
Constant pilot vigilance ("head on a swivel") and active monitoring for traffic are crucial for collision avoidance, especially in terminal areas and during climbs/descents where blind spots exist.
While onboard traffic advisory systems are helpful, they are not foolproof as some aircraft may lack or have inactive transponders.

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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.