Having finally spotted the aircraft and realizing I was not flying '80K,
whos callsign had become second nature to me, I replied back on the radio.
We still had some time to react without acting rashly. After all, I
didn't want to upset the "cargo".

"95X, I have contact." Not wanting to compound the situation in the event
other traffic was near I asked if they wanted me to climb or descend.
"Your prerogative." I started to climb with full throttle

At this point, how imminent was the threat? From the way you described
it, there was plenty of time. You made it to 4500 feet (with time to
spare); even at 1000 feet per minute, that's thirty seconds, and you
already see him. I'd've probably stayed at my altitued, said "traffic
in sight" and then maintained altitude, maneuvering to avoid him as
necessary. It might not have even been necessary.

If he was at 11 o'clock, and travelling at 90 degrees to you, you'd
probably pass behind with no further action on your part.

After climbing, finding him again at your altitude, turning, finding him
turning towards you, and turning again, you then say you're "less than a
mile away". Even half a mile, if you're watching, isn't all that close
(the Hudson river is only a mile wide).

It would seem to me that there was never an imminent threat; the
aircraft were too far away. A threat was developing, but once you had
him in sight it would not take such drastic action to avoid trading
paint (or pained expressions) with the other aircraft.

I suspect controllers will call out a collision alert further away,
because of the limited resolution of their screens (vs the High
Resolution Plexiglass Display most aircraft carry), and the time it
takes for any action they take to translate into aircraft movement.

As for tracking the idiot, check passur.com. Maybe they have radar
histories for that airport.

Jose
--
The monkey turns the crank and thinks he's making the music.
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