Scary/Embarassing Mistakes

[Bank Angle]

I must be new, what is so wrong with that? I wouldn't recommend flying in any published airways.

Did you not read my second paragraph? It is really difficult to see and avoid other aircraft when you (or the other guy) are doing 250 knots. And I hardly ever find myself on a published airway, so don't count on that to safe your bacon!

If you want to fly high, without talking to anyone, do it in uncontrolled (class G) airspace. Otherwise, call up the local area IFR controller (i.e. Toronto Terminal) and just tell them you want to climb up for pictures and get traffic advisories. Even if you're outside their airpace, they should be able to provide that service or give you an appropriate frequency to talk to for flight following (contrary to new-pilot's believes, controllers don't bite). And if they suggest you stay low because of their departure/arrival routes or because they are too busy, it might just be a wise thing to do, even if you don't "legally" have to get their permission.

And if that's not convincing enough, watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVCd3VZzxYw

[iflyforpie]

It is not supposed to matter where you fly. Unless Class E is a control zone with an MF, it is see and be seen and there is no restriction for VFR traffic and no transponder requirement either. The speed restriction is there for a reason and in most high performance aircraft there are two pilots so at least one should have their eyes outside in VFR conditions.

When an aircraft is going 250 knots, it does make it harder to see and react. But unless the other aircraft is also going 250 knots (in which case it would most likely be controlled) the only area you have to be concerned with is directly in front of you.

Don't be TCAS cripples.

[burhead1]

I do agree they don't bite, I am one who will contact terminal to transition through. Many will fly under for fear of contacting.

[Bank Angle]

It is not supposed to matter where you fly. Unless Class E is a control zone with an MF, it is see and be seen and there is no restriction for VFR traffic and no transponder requirement either. The speed restriction is there for a reason and in most high performance aircraft there are two pilots so at least one should have their eyes outside in VFR conditions.

I agree. It doesn't matter where you fly. Even in class A airspace if you are in VMC conditions, you are ultimately responsible for seeing and avoiding other aircraft. But single engine aircraft often don't have the luxury of another set of eyes in the cockpit, so wouldn't you agree that using all the resources available to you to help you avoid possible conflicts is a good idea!? And in addition to a (very) good lookout, those resources include transponders and flight following from ATC, especially in busy (albeit semi-uncontrolled) airspace. I really hate it when people follow the regs to the letter and think that is safe!

When an aircraft is going 250 knots, it does make it harder to see and react. But unless the other aircraft is also going 250 knots (in which case it would most likely be controlled) the only area you have to be concerned with is directly in front of you.

Don't be TCAS cripples.

TCAS was invented for a reason. I know I can't solely rely on it, and there are times when even transponder equiped targets don't show up. But even when only one aircraft is doing 250 KIAS, and let's say the other is doing only 100 KIAS, that is still a closure rate of over 6 nm/min head on. Now on a good day I can see aircraft over 10 miles away, IF I know where to look for them, but often they are much closer than that before I can see them, especially if you don't know they are there. That leaves you less than a minute to see, evaluate, and take evasive action, ASSUMING you weren't busy enjoying the view of your house or reading a map or keeping an eye on another aircraft during that minute! I've had enough close calls in my career that I for one like to use all technology and help available to me to avoid dissaster.

p.s. the single engine aircraft that took out Mexicana did not come from directly in front of them.

[iflyforpie]

By doing simple trigonometry, if a 120 knot aircraft is crossing the path of a 250 knot aircraft, the only possible way it will collide is if it is within 25 degrees of the centerline of the faster aircraft. Even though the Piper hit the tail of the Aeromexico jet, it still would have been visible from the front of the aircraft.

I do agree that we need to use all available resources to avoid collisions.