Collision Avoidance
This month’s focus is on the most personal safety task a pilot has: seeing and being seen. Mid-air collisions are rare, but when they happen they are almost always fatal. Collision avoidance is a discipline you can practice on every single flight.
The Fundamental Principle
In visual flight rules (VFR) operations, the pilot is the primary traffic-avoidance system. “See and avoid” is not just a phrase — it is the law and the basis of GA collision avoidance. An aircraft that is seen early can be avoided easily; the danger arrives when traffic goes unnoticed until it is too late.
Scan the Sky Effectively
- Scan in small sectors. Move your eyes in 10-degree steps and pause briefly each time; your eye needs a moment to pick up targets.
- Look out, not through. Don’t stare at the panel or instruments for long stretches. Clear the area before every turn and maneuver.
- Target the horizon and below. The eye naturally picks up contrast against the horizon, but traffic can appear at any angle.
- Overlap your scan partners. In a two-pilot cockpit, assign clear areas of responsibility and announce what each of you is covering.
Be Seen
- Fly with landing light on and anticollision lights on whenever practical.
- Make position turns and standard traffic patterns predictable for other pilots.
- Announce your position and intentions on the appropriate CTAF or tower frequency.
- Remember that visibility of your aircraft is dramatically improved by lighting and by flying predictable paths.
Right-of-Way Rules at a Glance
| Situation | Who Yields |
|---|---|
| Head-on approach | Both turn to the right. |
| Converging (about 90°) | The aircraft on the left yields to the one on the right. |
| Overtaking | The overtaking aircraft stays clear and passes well to the right of the aircraft being overtaken. |
| Landing | The lower aircraft — and the aircraft on final — have priority; the aircraft in distress overrides all. |
These reflect FAR 91.113 principles. Always review the current regulation and local traffic procedures.
Make It a Habit
Collision avoidance is not a skill you use occasionally — it is a habit for every takeoff, every turn, every approach. Practice the scan, brief your areas of responsibility, and always assume there is traffic you have not yet seen.