what is the minimum distance allowed between jet aircraft flying in opposite directions at similar altitude?

Question

i was travelling back from holiday at cruising altitude when i spotted an identically marked plane fly past in the opposite direction- im guessing at 1 to 2 miles away and at similar altitude. just curious.

Answer 1

Seriously depends on the situation and location. Per the FAA Odrer 7110.65 which applies to the FAA in the US...as a controller if you are landing behind a jet already on the runway I only need 6,000 feet of seperation, if you are behind a jet and both cleared to land I need 2 minutes of seperation and if you are both enroute at cruise I need 5 miles. I need 1,000 feet vertical seperation at the terminal level and 2,00 at enroute phase, which can easily look like nearly the same altitude. if flying opposite direction though the aircraft oing east should be at odd thousands plus 500 feet while west bound traffic should be odd plus 500 feet. This varies at altitude and when both a/c meet reduced vertical seperation minima but you get the idea.

Answer 2

This depends on the type of aircraft and whether it is military or not military planes.

Military have an average of 15-30 seconds between take off to reach the same altitude and flight pattern if staggered on the runway

Non-Passenger carrying commercial airplanes are allowed to be in the same approach vector as other smaller or non commercial airplanes. ATC (air traffic control) usually sets an altitude minimum and maximum for these planes too. In the Diamondstar that I fly, the ATC tells you to be at or above 5000 feet and will not put you in direct paths of any commerce planes. I've been as close as 3000 feet to other smaller aircraft as long as there is communication between all three parties.

Commercial airlines will be set at an altitude and given exact approach and take off vectors. This is where the minimum FAA regulations state that you must be at least 1-2 miles depending on visibility and wind conditions. You will never see two commercial airlines at the same altitude withing 10 miles. Flight paths don't allow this.

Answer 3

No controller will run aircraft nose to nose at the same altitude without some kind of separation assurance. For example ten miles nose to nose at cruising speed/altitude equates to something less than 40 seconds before a collision. A prudent controller will use lateral displacement between aircraft at the same level or apply an interim cleared level to aircraft that are climbing/descending.

Outside of radar coverage a controller may use a time based separation, for example at between ten and twenty minutes (depending on the airspace rules) before the calculated time of passing for one aircraft to achieve a vertically separated level from the other.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

They were also at different altitudes. Used to be 1,000 feet separation, but with the revised minimums, that's down to 500 feet. So, even if they flew within 5 feet of each other horizontally, they would still be at least 500 feet apart vertically. That's a very unlikely event, by the way. They are controlled throughout the flight by various branches/versions of ATC.

Answer 6

Others are providing more technical answers but I would just like to agree with you.
I've had a couple of similar incidents on flights to and from the Canary Islands. I would agree that there was at most 2 miles separation and at the same height.......a bit too close for comfort I thought.

Answer 7

In mi cuntery iss visual distance, if can see gap iss ok. Pilot get reprimand if dey nok airplanes twogethers, but most get ded wen tis hapen. Onli 10 plane crash mi cuntery last week is becos no marny buy nuff oils and fuels for Airfors to practis, ant as oficer say if no won die on excercises den no reelist and no werk for factory wot maek new plane or ment so crash is patriot duties.

Answer 8

They cannot be within two miles of the same altitude with eachother and no closer than five miles apart.

Answer 9

10 Miles I believe.

Answer 10

for commercial airliners, 1 mile is unacceptable. 2 miles is minimum, but definitely not prefered. you're always aiming for 3 miles if u're the ATC.