Are there rules in flying like highway rules for cars? Are there a lot of mid air accidents like yesterday?

Question

Two aircraft from two media ran into each other in mid flight. So are there rules in the air as on the ground when it comes vehicles ?

Answer 1

In the case of the phoenix mid air, they were news helicopters and were focused on getting material for the headlines. Unfortunately, they were the headlines.

As for the rules of the road- Some are like this

Hot air balloons have right of way over Gliders. Gliders over blimps, Blimps over Airplanes.

The aircraft that is on your right has right of way.( the one on the others right windscreen)

The lower aircraft has right of way when landing.

Any Aircraft that declares an emergency has right of way over the other traffic.

There are also FAA approved ways on how to do this and that.

Mid air accidents are indeed rare. ATC has many warning systems and commercial aircraft have TCAS. A far greater danger is collosions during the landing and taxiing and takeoffphase.


EDIT: Here's what the FAA has to say about right of way

Part 91 GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES
Subpart B--Flight Rules General

Sec. 91.113

Right-of-way rules: Except water operations.


(a) Inapplicability. This section does not apply to the operation of an aircraft on water.
(b) General. When weather conditions permit, regardless of whether an operation is conducted under instrument flight rules or visual flight rules, vigilance shall be maintained by each person operating an aircraft so as to see and avoid other aircraft. When a rule of this section gives another aircraft the right-of-way, the pilot shall give way to that aircraft and may not pass over, under, or ahead of it unless well clear.
(c) In distress. An aircraft in distress has the right-of-way over all other air traffic.
(d) Converging. When aircraft of the same category are converging at approximately the same altitude (except head-on, or nearly so), the aircraft to the other's right has the right-of-way. If the aircraft are of different categories--
(1) A balloon has the right-of-way over any other category of aircraft;
[(2) A glider has the right-of-way over an airship, powered parachute, weight-shift-control aircraft, airplane, or rotorcraft.
(3) An airship has the right-of-way over a powered parachute, weight-shift-control aircraft, airplane, or rotorcraft.]
However, an aircraft towing or refueling other aircraft has the right-of-way over all other engine-driven aircraft.
(e) Approaching head-on. When aircraft are approaching each other head-on, or nearly so, each pilot of each aircraft shall alter course to the right.
(f) Overtaking. Each aircraft that is being overtaken has the right-of-way and each pilot of an overtaking aircraft shall alter course to the right to pass well clear.
(g) Landing. Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface, except that they shall not take advantage of this rule to force an aircraft off the runway surface which has already landed and is attempting to
make way for an aircraft on final approach. When two or more aircraft are approaching an airport for the purpose of landing, the aircraft at the lower altitude has the right-of-way, but it shall not take advantage of this rule to cut in front of another which is on final approach to land or to overtake
that aircraft.

Answer 2

There is a large book filled with traffic and other regulations, as some have mentioned. However, when several helicopters are swarming over a traffic accident/car chase in a big city, the rule book is useless. It's pretty scary to be flying near these scenes, as you have news, police, and EMS helicopters flying circles in close proximity with each other.

Many commercial helicopters do not have a TCAS, and ATC will just be seeing several dots right next to each other, making it difficult to separate them. This case is not like fixed wing traffic that typically flies in a straight line and follows a logical sequence to a runway. The right of way and traffic separation rules are a little fuzzier when everyone is flying around in a tight circle at low altitudes.

The bottom line is that you have to look out for other traffic and avoid it. "See and avoid", as we say. If you fixate on what's happening on the ground, an accident may happen (it's just like when you're driving in rush hour traffic and there is a crash on the opposite side, everyone stares at the crash, rather than the traffic in front of them).

This was a terrible tragedy and my heart goes out to their families.

Answer 3

To add to what Charles M. said: when flying under visual rules aircraft on a magnetic course of 360 - 179 fly at odd altitudes + 500' (11,500, 13,500, 15,500). Aircraft on a magnetic course of 180 - 359 fly even altitudes + 500' (12,500, 14,500, 16,500). This doesn't prevent collisions but it does reduce the closure rate and allows more time for aircraft to "see and avoid" (which is a lot more difficult than it sounds). If two airplanes are meeting head on there SHOULD be at least 1,000 feet separation.

Rules help but won't prevent all collisions any more than traffic rules will prevent traffic accidents. Fortunately, midairs are rare.

Answer 4

Yes, there are rules for aircraft, though they are much different from cars. Unfortunately, no rule can prevent accidents unless the pilots of the aircraft stay alert and watch for other traffic. Mid air collisions are not common. We should wait until the accident investigation is completed by the FAA and then try to learn from it.

Answer 5

depending on what type of airplane it is but yes there are many rules for airliners they must be at least 5 miles from another aircraft to avoid mid air colissions and to land the plane you must get clearence from the ground tower.in smaller private planes. the rules are different you still have to get runway clearence but you can fly at any given hieght but can not go in restricted airspace such as over washington dc or over airports such as lax . but no mid air collissions are very rare because there is so much sky up there its very unlikely for two planes to be going the opposite direction from the other at the same exact hieght

Answer 6

Actually, once you get away from the airport, it's rare to even see another airplane in the sky around you. The two news helicopters that crashed yesterday failed to maintain separation while they were concentrating on activities on the ground... A fatal mistake!

Answer 7

Yes, there are rules. The primary rule is "See and Avoid." The pilots in Phoenix violated that one big time.

No, mid-air collisions are rare.

Answer 8

To add to another post, go to your local library and look up the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). It's about two inches thick and full of rules and regulations. Enjoy!

Answer 9

Yes to the first question, many rules. No to the second. Rarely happens.

Answer 10

yes, they are called FAA regulations.It can be found in most bookstores or flight shops.