Crossing planes

[lamentiraestaahifuera.com]

Hi Mick,

is there something strange in this video? I mean, is it usual two planes passing closely in this way?



Thank you!

[Jay Reynolds]

This is a fairly complete general explanation of separation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separat...affic_control)

However, its possible these flights are at RVSM altiude, where other rules apply:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduced...aration_Minima

Its also possible that there was a violation.

A photogrammatic analysis could possibly tell you more, if done carefully:
http://metabunk.org/threads/71-Micha...full=1#post306

One hint that the planes are not so close is lack of wake vortex effects on the contrails, but since they weren't persistent, it is hard to tell.
Jay

[lamentiraestaahifuera.com]

Thank you Jay!

[Mick]

It's pretty much impossible to tell a difference of a few thousand feet from the ground, and certainly not from a low resolution video.

So long as there's 1000 feet vertically between them, then it's fine, and in fact happens relatively frequently.

This si what it looks like from the cockpit:



And here's one with THREE planes crossing the path of another. All perfectly legal and safe:

[lamentiraestaahifuera.com]

Thank you Mick!