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Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 11:59:27 -0600
From: Brett Rabe <brett@uswest.net>
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Subject: Re: Are close calls normal?
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Logic Theorist wrote:

>         In my opinion the odds of two airplanes colliding in mid air are
> significantly less than the bullet's odds since a bullet travels a fixed
> trajectory once it has left the gun barrel. Planes on the other hand have
> infinitly correctable paths of flight. Also, enroute aircraft fly at
> non-intersecting altitudes when their headings are more than 180 degrees in
> difference. Add to this the air traffic control system and you have a lot
> more going for you than the two bullets have.

Bullets aren't required to fly specific patterns around
the deer before heading for its heart. Planes, on the
other hand, fly very specific paths to get to the runway;
they don't simply arrive there from some random direction.

Folks always seem to concentrate on the perceived dangers
of collisions in cruise. It's far more likely that such an
encounter will take place either in the traffic pattern at
an airport (Don't let the presence of a tower give you the
impression that separation isn't your responsibility!) or
at a high-use airspace area like some practice areas near
airports with high training activity.

Brett

-- 
Brett Rabe                            Email :      brett@uswest.net
Systems Administrator - U S West      Phone :          612.664.3078
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           An unemployed court jester is no one's fool.
