Do pilots ever see other planes?

Under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), a pilot typically has to rely on visual identification of other traffic himself/herself. Optionally a VFR pilot can request radar flight-following services and get traffic advisories but ATC is not required to provide that service if they're too busy.



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The answer is quite simple, no, they don't actually see anything at night. Before takeoff, pilots scan the sky to avoid hazards and prevent compromising the entire flight.

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It's important to note that pilots do not see other planes on radar directly. Instead, air traffic controllers use radar to track the location and altitude of planes in their airspace, and then communicate this information to pilots through their cockpit instruments and radios.

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Yes, the FAA permits pilots to listen to music as long as it's not distracting. Some headphones have the ability to have two inputs, one for comms and one for music, and can silence the music whenever audio is detected on the comms input.

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It's unrealistic to expect a crew to fly together for several days and never discuss anything except items related to flying the aircraft. In fact, experts have demonstrated that in order to be most effective, crews need to talk -- even if it is just merely get to know you sort of chat.

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A mid-air collision is a rare occurrence, but there are some elements that tend to be found in the majority of mid-air collisions. Contrary to what many people assume about mid-air collisions, these tragic crashes do not often happen in foggy weather or at night when visibility is impaired.

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All pilots have to do is follow the beams down to 200 feet above the ground, at which point they must be able to see the runway and its approach lights. If not, by federal law, they must climb back up into the soup and decide whether they want to try another approach or go to an alternate airport.

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The distributed aperture system—one camera is mounted ahead of the cockpit, another is aft, and the remaining four are below the airframe—gives the pilot the equivalent of X-ray vision: When she looks down, she can see straight through the floor of the airplane.

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Instrument approach procedures specify minimum flight visibility to land and minimum decent altitudes. If the clouds are too low or the visibility is very poor, a pilot still can't land. Flight visibility is just one factor, however. Rain can make it difficult to see out the windscreen.

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Flying over the ocean is safe. Landing in it is not. It is only the squishy, carbon-based organisms in the two front seats of the plane that have trouble seeing in the dark. All the systems on the plane (and on the ground for that matter) work just as well in darkness as they do in light.

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While pilots can't actually see turbulence, they often know what is coming up, thanks to reports from other planes, weather reports, and radar equipment. However, clear air turbulence (severe turbulence occurring in cloudless areas) can sometimes catch pilots off guard.

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Do pilots hear the flight attendant announcements? Yes… any announcements made to the passenger cabin, are also heard in the cockpit, and vice-versa. If the cabin crew wishes to speak to the cockpit crew only, they use the phones by the jumpseats or in the galley.

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The majority of pilots likely fall somewhere in between?having no preference, pro or con, when it comes to dating another pilot. Of the pilots interviewed, only one—F/O Fallon Winslow (Alaska)—said she had a hard-and-fast rule. “I made a 'no pilot' dating rule very early in my career.

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But most of them flash into view 80 to 110 km above the ground, so they'll be hardly any brighter due to closeness alone. You'll be above some haze and ground-based light pollution and see right down to the horizon, but these advantages may be offset by glare from the plane's instrument and running lights.

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Should you be scared of turbulence? The short answer is no, and rest assured that the pilots know how uncomfortable turbulence can make passengers feel. And know that no aircraft has ever crashed because of turbulence. Turbulence has not caused an airplane to crash, Biddle said.

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Airplane colors and jet engine spinner markings help to repel birds. Birds seek to avoid airplanes because of aerodynamic and engine noise.

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Commonly known as the sterile cockpit rule, these regulations specifically prohibit crew member performance of non-essential duties or activities while the aircraft is involved in taxi, takeoff, landing, and all other flight operations conducted below 10,000 feet MSL, except cruise flight.

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Many airlines provide crew rest areas on their aircraft, where pilots can sleep during long-haul flights. These areas are usually located in the tail, cargo area or above the cabin of the plane and are designed to be as quiet and comfortable as possible. Other crew members prefer to use business class seats to rest.

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A pilot may not use his or her phone for non-flight related tasks during takeoff, landing, or while flying under 10,000. Upon reaching cruising altitude the pilot is free to use their phone at their own discretion. This is, however, the FAA policy so for commercial pilots it may vary company to company.

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