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Old August 29th 08, 06:50 AM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Bertie the Bunyip[_24_]
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Posts: 2,969
Default 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