Collision Avoidance Strategies

Collision Avoidance Strategies
 Correct altitude—Respect VFR and IFR cruising altitudes specified by your magnetic
course. Fly altitudes of odd thousands plus 500 feet for VFR flights over 3,000 feet AGL
between zero and 179 degrees; between 180 and 359 degrees, fly altitudes of even
thousands plus 500 feet. Fly odd thousands of feet for IFR flights between zero and 179
degrees; even thousands of feet for IFR flights between 180 and 359 degrees.
 Avoid crowded airspace—If flying VFR, avoid flying too close to approach fixes and
navaids, as this might cause congestion. Study airspace, such as military operations
zones and routes, warning areas, and alert regions that can be active along your trip.
 Turn on the lights—External lights make the aircraft more visible even during the day.
The visibility of the aircraft to others is increased by a factor of ten thanks to the
recognition lights. During final approach and departure, turn on the landing light. Turn
on the landing light if you receive a traffic alert or observe incoming traffic. This will
make your plane easier to identify.
 Limit conversation in the cockpit—General aviation pilots should minimize idle talk
during the beginning and last 10 minutes of each flight, according to the AOPA Air Safety
Institute, in order to focus on aircraft operations and traffic scanning.
 Non-towered airports— Make position reports from a distance of 10 miles. Report each
leg of the traffic pattern while listening and keeping an eye out for other aircraft
(remember not all aircraft have radios).
Takeoff and Climb

Takeoff and ascent account for around one out of every ten airborne collisions, so make sure
the runway is clear before departing and keep an eye out for other approaching aircraft. Use
short S-turns or lower the nose to gain a better view of the region directly in front of the aircraft
when ascending out.
Turn on the landing light if you receive a traffic alert or observe incoming traffic. This will make
your plane easier to spot.
Cruise
During a cruise flight, one-quarter of midair collisions occur. While cruise flight gives pilots the
most time to check for traffic, it is also the longest period of the flight and the time when
passengers are most relaxed.
Approach, Descent, and Landing
The traffic pattern accounts for half of all collisions, with final approach and landing accounting
for 80% of these. Throughout the traffic pattern, check ahead, behind, above, and below your
aircraft to ensure final clearance before turning. Any misunderstanding regarding where other
planes are, who's landing, and in what order they're landing might result in tragedy. This is
especially true at airports without a tower. If there is no activity on the frequency, one may
assume that no aircraft are in the pattern. However, some aircraft may not be equipped with
radios, or an inbound or outgoing flight may be communicating on the incorrect frequency.
Right of way
An aircraft that is required to keep out of the way of another aircraft must avoid passing over or
under the other, or crossing ahead of it, unless passing well clear.
An aircraft with the right of way must maintain its heading and speed, but nothing in the
regulations relieves the pilot in command of an aircraft of the obligation to take the action that
would best avoid a collision.
When two aircraft are on converging headings at approximately the same height, the aircraft
that has the other on its right must give way, except that:
 power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft shall give way to airships, gliders and balloons
 airships shall give way to gliders and balloons
 gliders shall give way to balloons
 power-driven aircraft shall give way to aircraft that are seen to be towing other aircraft
or objects.
When two aircraft are approaching head-on (or approximately so) and there is danger of
collision, each shall alter its heading to the right.
An aircraft that is being overtaken has the right-of-way and the overtaking aircraft, whether
climbing, descending, or in horizontal flight, shall keep out of the way of the other aircraft by
altering its heading to the right, and no subsequent change in the relative positions of the two
aircraft shall absolve the overtaking aircraft from this obligation until it is entirely past and
clear.
An overtaking aircraft shall not pass the aircraft that it is overtaking by diving or climbing.
An aircraft in flight, or operating on the ground or water, shall give way to other aircraft landing
or on final approach to land.
When two or more heavier-than-air aircraft approach an aerodrome for the purpose of
landing, the higher-altitude aircraft must give way to the lower-altitude aircraft, but the latter
must not use this regulation to cut in front of or overtake another that is on final approach to
land. Power-driven heavier- than-air aircraft shall give way to gliders.
 An aircraft that is about to take off shall not attempt to do so until there is no apparent
risk of collision with other aircraft.
 An aircraft that is aware that another aircraft is compelled to land shall give way to that
aircraft.

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Takeoff and Climb

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