Can pilots see while flying?
The short answer is no. If you’ve ever gazed out your window into the inky blackness during a nighttime flight, you’ve probably wondered how the pilots are able to see anything from the cockpit. The blinking LED light visible from the ground actually serves a beacon to help other pilots spot the plane in the air.
Do Airplanes see other airplanes?
Answer: No, the pilots and air traffic controllers know when airplanes will pass each other. There are strict separation standards to ensure that a safe margin is maintained. While a passing airplane may look close, it is actually distant. Remember that airplanes can be separated vertically as well as laterally.
What does a pilot see when landing?
To complete a safe landing, pilots must be able to see the runway at a specific decision height (DH) above the ground. A minimum horizontal visibility is also specified, called the Runway Visual Range, or RVR. The RVR is measured on the ground, and the information given to the pilots before they begin an approach.
How do pilots know route?
Pilots rely heavily on computerised controls and with the assistance of the autopilot and the flight management computer, steer the plane along their planned route. They are monitored by air traffic control stations they pass along the way.
How come you never see other planes when flying?
A: First of all, there are a lot less planes flying at once than there are cars driving on highways. Secondly, air traffic controllers work hard to be sure all planes in the sky have clear flightpaths, so you won’t likely find two planes going the same place at the exact same time.
How far apart do planes have to be in the air?
1,000 feet
A: The standard for vertical separation is now 1,000 feet. You were right about it being 2,000 feet until January 20, 2005, when the U.S. implemented Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM). The pilots were aware of the opposite-direction traffic.
Why do some planes leave more contrails than others?
The less common reason is that different planes have different engines. Some engines will leave a contrail in the air where another engine will not. Here, for example, are an Airbus A340 (maiden flight: 1991) on the left, leaving contrails, and a Boeing 707 (maiden flight: 1957) not leaving contrails.
What are contrails and why do they matter?
Contrails are the visible reminder that on a daily basis numerous commercial and private flights cross the skies across the world. But some aircraft leave these white trails behind them and others do not, even when seemingly in the same general part of the sky.
Why do some planes leave trails and others do not?
Now there are two main reasons why some planes leave trails and some nearby planes do not. The less common reason is that different planes have different engines. Some engines will leave a contrail in the air where another engine will not.
How long do contrails stay in the air?
Some aircraft leave long, defined contrails that persist for several hours after the plane has passed; others leave very short trails that disappear fast. Why is this? Persistent contrails can hang in the air for many hours.