See And Be Seen?

From time to time, someone will pop up with the idea that the time-honored practice of visual traffic separation-often known as see and be seen-is too archaic for modern aircraft. Anything that flies, so the theory goes, should have some kind of automated collision avoidance system which does exist but will solve all potential conflicts between aircraft of all sizes. Someday, perhaps, but until then most of us are stuck using see and be seen.

Monday, June 29, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

"See and be seen" remains the fundamental and essential method for avoiding mid-air collisions, despite calls for advanced automated systems.
The NTSB emphasizes the critical importance of "see and be seen" through a Safety Alert, recommending pilots methodically scan, minimize distractions, use lighting, and communicate clearly.
Pilots should view onboard traffic advisory systems as supplementary aids, not as replacements for constant, diligent visual scanning.
The NTSB also produced a video analyzing a 2013 UPS crash, offering lessons on unstabilized approaches, fatigue, and cockpit resource management applicable to all aviators.

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From time to time, someone will pop up with the idea that the time-honored practice of visual traffic separation—often known as “see and be seen”—is too archaic for modern aircraft. Anything that flies, so the theory goes, should have some kind of automated collision avoidance system which does exist but will solve all potential conflicts between aircraft of all sizes. Someday, perhaps, but until then most of us are “stuck” using see and be seen.