Run Over @ 20,000'

[sns3guppy]

I've overtaken a lot of traffic at higher altitudes, but haven't been run over up there. Converging traffic can sometimes be an issue, but in the flight levels, traffic is more established, and most equipment is TCAS equipped and under positive radar control. Most aircraft are crewed by trained and experienced pilots/crews, too.

Around FL180, different hazards exist. The weather is among them. A lot of your short-range traffic, as well as slower, smaller traffic is found just above or below the transition level at FL180 (in the Continental US). This can include turbojet, turboprop, and piston equipment. A lot of aircraft hang out close to the transition level, either just above or below it; 20,000' is an altitude where nearly everything else that's not hanging out at FL200 will be climbing or descending at high speeds through FL200.

Most of my close calls with respect to traffic have been at much lower altitudes, including a recent TCAS resolution advisory at 7,000' near Newark, earlier this year.

In Iraq, I averaged three near-misses nightly. In my opinion, that's way too much. I haven't experienced nearly that number in Afghanistan, but the conflict potential is very much there.

That said, I'm not flying a skymaster in Afghanistan, either. My single biggest concern in flying has always been the potential to have a traffic conflict with a light airplane on a VFR weekend, especially near high-traffic areas. Sometimes there's just no telling.

[Red Air Rambo]

Originally Posted by sns3guppy

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In Iraq, I averaged three near-misses nightly. In my opinion, that's way too much. I haven't experienced nearly that number in Afghanistan, but the conflict potential is very much there.

+1 Iraq was a mess...take the most congested airspace you know of and throw in UAV's (Predator's... etc.)....u get the pic.

[sns3guppy]

In Iraq, there was a lot going on at times, but it was always the UAV's that concerned me the most. Hazards to aerial navigation, if you ask me.

[Red Air Rambo]

Originally Posted by sns3guppy

In Iraq, there was a lot going on at times, but it was always the UAV's that concerned me the most. Hazards to aerial navigation, if you ask me.

+1... did you actually fly the Guppy and was it the mini, pregnant or the super? One of the coolest planes I've ever seen...I was SOF one day in Tulsa when we loaded one of our Oshkosh Firetruck's to go to Iraq or Afghnistan...I don't remember which...it was early in the war(s).

[WebMaster]

"My last 'close encounter' with a hot-rod Howard occurred back in the mid 70's. I was a proud young co-pilot on a shiny new Merlin III, my first turbo-prop job. We were enroute from Florida back to Texas cruising at 20000 feet and 260 kts when ATC called overtaking traffic at 22000. I looked out the window and saw a Howard 500 going by us like we were standing still. So much for turbines."

[hharney]

325 MPH
And a beauty she is. Those are some fine lines.

[WebMaster]

Look, it even has twin tails, like a Skymaster.