Mike D
Well Known Member
Great flying day here in TX, so everyone and their grandma was out flying.
This led to some closer than I like "near misses". All were around the edge of class D airports where one plane was heading to the field and the other was just scooting outside the airspace so they did not have to call in. All were at or near 1500 ft AGL. One was a high wing flying through our gaggle of 4 planes and the other was me flying about 100 ft above a tight formation of -8s. The scary part is, it was the big blue sky, not skill, that kept an accedent from happening.
I do scan the sky's, but on both insidents the plans were approaching from perpendicular angles. In the incident where I flew over the formation, I was really busy transitioning into approach to a very busy airport. ATC was calling out traffic, dealing with the folks who didn't have a clue, and giving clearances to multiple planes coming to land. The tower never called out the formation flight as traffic to anyone, but it was not her job, nor did she have time. They also never showed up on my EFIS as traffic. And I only saw them when there was nothing I could do but pray. The formation was not higher because of a class B shelf at 2K and they did not call the tower because of ATC being so busy. So in no way do I blame anyone here.
The other incident we were scooting between tall towers and a class D, with a class B above. The cessna flew right through our gaggle, only missing us due to luck.
So maybe the question here is, what should you do when transitioning a very busy airspace? Do you scoot outside and say nothing? Do you give a wider space? Stay at odd altitudes? Any ideas on how to be safer in these types of situations?
What about formations (loose or otherwise) in busy airspace? Is it better to stick together and have all eyes outside, or should you break up, all transponders on, and everyone for him/herself?
thoughts?
This led to some closer than I like "near misses". All were around the edge of class D airports where one plane was heading to the field and the other was just scooting outside the airspace so they did not have to call in. All were at or near 1500 ft AGL. One was a high wing flying through our gaggle of 4 planes and the other was me flying about 100 ft above a tight formation of -8s. The scary part is, it was the big blue sky, not skill, that kept an accedent from happening.
I do scan the sky's, but on both insidents the plans were approaching from perpendicular angles. In the incident where I flew over the formation, I was really busy transitioning into approach to a very busy airport. ATC was calling out traffic, dealing with the folks who didn't have a clue, and giving clearances to multiple planes coming to land. The tower never called out the formation flight as traffic to anyone, but it was not her job, nor did she have time. They also never showed up on my EFIS as traffic. And I only saw them when there was nothing I could do but pray. The formation was not higher because of a class B shelf at 2K and they did not call the tower because of ATC being so busy. So in no way do I blame anyone here.
The other incident we were scooting between tall towers and a class D, with a class B above. The cessna flew right through our gaggle, only missing us due to luck.
So maybe the question here is, what should you do when transitioning a very busy airspace? Do you scoot outside and say nothing? Do you give a wider space? Stay at odd altitudes? Any ideas on how to be safer in these types of situations?
What about formations (loose or otherwise) in busy airspace? Is it better to stick together and have all eyes outside, or should you break up, all transponders on, and everyone for him/herself?
thoughts?