Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021 - 6
ASI MESSAGE
Analyzing Midairs
We average eight midair
collisions a year in general
aviation, two of them fatal-a
relatively small number
compared to the 25 million
or so flight hours and tens of
millions of flight operations in
GA aircraft every year.
The troubling news is the
annual average appears stagnant and we have a worrisome
number of near misses. Our training in visual scans, radio use, and
procedures in cruise and the traffic pattern have helped to make
midairs rare, but we can make them extinct and reduce the number
of close calls. We'll need to capitalize on new technologies, such as
ADS-B; learn how and when to use them most effectively; recommit
to discipline on established procedures; and utilize new techniques
when appropriate to drive midairs to zero.
The AOPA Air Safety Institute analyzed midair collisions and
determined that collisions in cruise, especially a near-head-on
collision, are exceptionally rare. More likely, the impact in cruise will
occur converging from the side, and the highest probability of an
impact in cruise will occur with one aircraft overtaking the other.
The greatest risk of a midair collision appears to be in or near the
traffic pattern. Airplanes converging to the same relative point in the
sky are more likely to create conflicts as the " big sky " gets squeezed.
Most midair collisions happen within five miles of an airport.
After a troubling 18-month period in Alaska that included a few
tragic midair collisions, ASI initiated a survey last October among
Alaskan pilots to determine the extent of near misses in the region.
We defined near miss as " flying in close proximity to an aircraft
you weren't aware of or that caused you to take immediate evasive
action to avoid a collision. " Some 710 pilots took the survey, almost
50 percent of whom reported a near miss in the past five years, and
25 percent of whom had multiple near-miss events. The respondents
reported 719 near-miss events in the past five years; 36 percent
happened within the past year. Survey participation represents
11 percent of the 6,597 pilots registered in Alaska. Clearly, traffic
spotting, avoidance, and deconfliction are critical skills to Alaskan
pilots.
Forty-seven percent of the Alaskan pilots involved in a near
miss listed communications as the contributing factor: lack
of communication; frequency congestion; and confusing, or
nonstandard, terminology. Alaskan pilots overwhelmingly believed
that ADS-B could play a better role in preventing near-misses.
Half of respondents were ADS-B equipped. ADS-B coverage is
a sensitive issue. Because of the mountainous terrain and large
expanse, complete ADS-B coverage in Alaska doesn't exist and is
expensive to implement. The FAA plans additional ground stations,
which will help ADS-B adoption, but full coverage isn't in any nearterm
plans.
Some suggest we can reduce the potential for midair collision
by adding more randomness in our altitude selections. It's a
thought I've had while cruising VFR. With the proliferation of GPS,
autopilots, and digital displays, we are all flying more precisely than
ever before with instrumentation that's more accurate. Variances
in system tolerances, analog displays, and interpretations are
disappearing, resulting in smaller altitude and course discrepancies.
More pilots are flying exactly on course, exactly on altitude.
FARs 91.159 and 91.179 dictate our cruising altitude options. Even
though cruise midairs are rare, perhaps we can tilt the scales in
our favor by flying at random, atypical altitudes when we're below
3,000 feet agl. Often, when I'm on VFR flight following, I'll advise
the controller that I'll hold an unusual cruise altitude, like 4,700 feet.
They typically reply: " Maintain VFR, altitude at your discretion. " I
take comfort that it's not likely anyone else is cruising at 4,700 feet.
Midair collisions should become extinct. Making them extinct will
depend on pilots. New technologies like ADS-B and maintaining
proficiency using them will help. Even small advancements such as
brighter and pulsating lights will reduce collisions. Flying unusual
cruise altitudes where allowed can create some needed space. We
can make the most impact, however, through vigilance in known
areas of congestion, such as the traffic pattern. We can depart or
approach each airfield with all lights on; using standard procedures;
clear, crisp transmissions; and listening actively. Inbound, as we
approach the pattern, we should commit to conclude all of our
inside tasks and adopt an eyes-out posture, utilizing our passengers
if appropriate, knowing that we are about to enter the highest-risk
arena for midair potential.
Fly safe!
Richard G. McSpadden, Jr.
Senior Vice President, AOPA Air
Safety Institute
Not many pilots have survived a midair collision. Gabrielle Palmas experienced one in 2012,
while working on her instrument rating. Now, years later, as second-in-command on a Lear 60,
she joins us to tell her story.
6
Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021
Contents
Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021 - Contents
Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021 - 2
Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021 - 3
Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021 - 4
Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021 - 5
Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021 - 6
Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021 - 7
Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021 - 8
Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021 - 9
Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021 - 10
Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021 - 11
Premium on Safety - Issue 42 2021 - 12
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2024issue51
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2023issue50
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2023issue49
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2023issue48
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2023issue47
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2022issue46
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2022issue45
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2022issue44
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2022issue43
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2021issue42
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2021issue41
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2021issue40
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2021issue39
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2020issue38
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2020issue37
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2020issue36
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2020issue35
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2019issue34
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2019issue33
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2019issue32
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2019issue31
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2018issue30
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2018issue29
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2018issue28
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2018issue27
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2017issue26
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2017issue25
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2017issue24
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2016issue23
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2016issue22
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2016issue21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2016issue20
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/runwaysafetyflashcard
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2015issue19
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2015issue18
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2015issue17
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2015issue16
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2014issue15
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2014issue14
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2014issue13
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2013issue12
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/premiumonsafety_2013issue11
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com