Pilots may think that talking to ATC or using ADS-B protects them from midair collisions, but mistakes still can happen, and they can be fatal. AOPA’s Air Safety Institute is taking on the midair threat in a big way, offering in-person seminars at 48 sites across the U.S. this year. “What we hope pilots take away from this seminar is that even if you are doing everything right, you can find yourself in a situation where you are closer in proximity to other airplanes than you realize,” said Richard McSpadden, executive director of the AOPA Air Safety Institute. The new seminar identifies high-risk scenarios and locations, then lays out strategies for avoiding them.
Among the topics covered are human eye limitations that impact the “see and avoid” philosophy, proven techniques for improving your visual scan, maximizing your visibility to other aircraft, the limits of cockpit technology and “danger zones” you may not be aware of. The seminars are funded in part by a donation from Joyce Gardella, whose husband, Paul,a flight instructor, died in a midair crash near Washington, D.C. The first Collision Course event was held last week, in Fairfax, Virginia, and drew a crowd of 225. A full listing of the seminar locations and more information can be found at the ASF website.
