Planes too close?

[Socalx09]

Maybe this happens all the time. But, I have never seen two planes get this close. It may not have been that close in the sky, but it had me worried watching in my backyard. The small plane is still flying around.

Is this normal? I know there are a few aviation guys on here.

 

[SkyDirtWaterguy]

Completely different altitudes. Not a threat.

 

[Socalx09]

Completely different altitudes. Not a threat.

That’s what I figured, just never observed planes cross like that

 

[Nordie]

Download the radar app, you can see almost everything flying around in the sky. Well besides drones in New Jersey and some military stuff.

 

[Socalx09]

Download the radar app, you can see almost everything flying around in the sky. Well besides drones in New Jersey and some military stuff.

Thanks!

 

[Sleek-Jet]

A great lesson in forced perspective. That Cessna is closer to you than the Boeing, so they appear to be ona collision course when actually they are probably a mile or two apart and at different altitudes. That is a neat picture.

 

[paradise]

Like SJ said, that passenger plane is way higher And farther away than it looks. I always like seeing the jets when in a little plane. They look closer than they are for the same reason

 

[Andy B.]

Like SJ said, that passenger plane is way higher And farther away than it looks. I always like seeing the jets when in a little plane. They look closer than they are for the same reason View attachment 1460323

That's a cool pic also.

 

[lbhsbz]

From the ground it looks like a lot of planes are gonna crash, but the altitude separates them considerably. To make certain of that (remembering my limited flight training from 25 years ago)....N/S travel gets an even altitude number (16K feet, 20K feet, etc..) and E/W gets an odd altitude number (15K feet, 19K feet, etc) ,.. or vice versa. Pretty impossible for anything but a head on collision, but assuming ATC is present and the pilot/captain is looking out the window...that won't happen either.

 

[2Driver]

Thats why hunters and fisherman stand well behind their trophies for photo ops

 

[GRADS]

You should watch planes land at SFO, they're literally side by side.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

From the ground it looks like a lot of planes are gonna crash, but the altitude separates them considerably. To make certain of that (remembering my limited flight training from 25 years ago)....N/S travel gets an even altitude number (16K feet, 20K feet, etc..) and E/W gets an odd altitude number (15K feet, 19K feet, etc) ,.. or vice versa. Pretty impossible for anything but a head on collision, but assuming ATC is present and the pilot/captain is looking out the window...that won't happen either.

Oddballs go east... Meaning airplane traveling on an easterly heading fly at odd altitudes (5000, 7000, 9000, ect) and airplanes flying west fly even altitudes (8000, 10000, 12000, ect).

 

[wzuber]

Like SJ said, that passenger plane is way higher And farther away than it looks. I always like seeing the jets when in a little plane. They look closer than they are for the same reason View attachment 1460323

What is that bay just beyond the airliner?
It looks like it could use some sprint boat racing on it.

 

[Orange Juice]

Maybe this happens all the time. But, I have never seen two planes get this close. It may not have been that close in the sky, but it had me worried watching in my backyard. The small plane is still flying around.

Is this normal? I know there are a few aviation guys on here. View attachment 1460305

I bet there 5 miles apart….maybe more.

 

[DaveH]

depending on what air space they are in, air traffic control is entirey watching and directing this..........ADSB has made it much safer.

 

[GRADS]

If you had the Flightradar 24 app, you'd know exactly how close they were. I use it all the time when I'm sitting out back and a plane flies over.

 

[t&y]

My last little cruise up the coast ATC had another Piper 500 below and about 500 off my right wing the entire time. He turned in at John Wayne. It was cool, and little disturbing at the same time, but no danger to anyone involved... I was joking with my passenger regarding it's like parking way out of the way in the parking with no one around, then when you return there is some other weirdo parked right next to you .

 

[paradise]

What is that bay just beyond the airliner?
It looks like it could use some sprint boat racing on it.

Anaheim bay

 

[DWC]

Like SJ said, that passenger plane is way higher And farther away than it looks. I always like seeing the jets when in a little plane. They look closer than they are for the same reason View attachment 1460323

That area is crazy busy. Flying South into there we usually turn left into the flood control and follow it up to get in line at SNA. The amount of air traffic is nuts.

 

[outboard_256]

So how close would be a "close call" in feet?

 

[whiteworks]

Here is a pic from the first time I flew in a formation, that adds a little something extra unnerving to the experience.

With the little planes when you’re up there and another one is coming at you from opposite direction with different but similar altitude you really get a sense of how fast your going as you pass each other. A mid air head on collision in Cessnas would happen FAST, like 300 mph impact.