August 29th 08, 06:50 AM
posted to rec.aviation.piloting
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En route altitudes and safety
Frank Olson wrote in
news:UyLtk.51242$hx.9049@pd7urf3no:
Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
buttman wrote in news:7a1a8551-4840-45e3-a452-
:
On Aug 27, 10:22 am, Frank Olson
wrote:
a wrote:
A recent thread reminded me it might be worth discussing an
personal
flying practice. When en route, as a way of reducing the
likelihood
of a midair by about a binary order of magnitude (that's a factor
of
two for the non mathematically inclined) I fly the nominal
altitude
less 100 feet VFR, or the assigned altitude less 50 feet IFR. The
idea
of course is if the unseen/unreported converging traffic is at
the
correct altitude or on the high side of it, we'd miss. I chose
lower
because I fly a low winged airplane, and of course I would agree
this
makes a very unlikely event only slightly less likely. On the
other
hand, I don't see that I've significantly increased other in-
flight
risks much by doing this, What (if anything) might I have
overlooked?
To the wiseguys, yes I in fact do hold altitude pretty closely
when
flying.
Do any of you have similar odd real life habits you think enhance
safety?
I fly at the assigned altitude, period. I put my trust in the
controllers and would hope that the PIC's sharing the airways with
me
are just as trustworthy (and professional). Someone that thinks
deviating from an assigned altitude by as much as 100 feet (plus or
minus) is "OK" should spend a few hours with an instructor that's
going
to rap your knuckles with a ruler when you try pulling something
like
that in the name of "safety".
I many jets, it's nearly impossible to hold +/-100 feet for any
extended period of time without the autopilot.
Bull****.
Bertie
It really surprises me on how many things we agree on considering
you're
"supposed to be" a notorious "troll". But then all I have to really
base that opinion on is the assertion of several other rather more
obvious "trolls"... Ah me... Life was so much simpler before USENET.
To think, I'd be out there vacuuming the cabin of the plane right now
if
it wasn't for this group... :-)
Yeah, me too!
Bertie
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