Originally Posted by
TheAerosCo
Originally Posted by Lead Balloon
The difficulties of identifying a specific aircraft, at night, in a background of stationary and moving lights, when moving objects on a collision course will always appear stationary to each other, are well known.
Whilst maybe not a factor here, that is only true when neither object is accelerating (for example in a turn). This has often been quoted in the thread and it's worth remembering that even if the other object shows relative movement it might still hit you (or vice versa).
On a wider aviation note:
I have decided to stay out of this thread (from early on) but what I just read is wrong. If you have ever experienced an aircraft descending 'into' you in a constant curving descent into the cct on a constant aspect you would not make that statement. It has happened to me.
The whole airframe was invisible and appeared as a black void - the only thing alerting me to the fact, was the absence of the background night sky as it grew bigger and bigger in the field of view
I manoeuvred below and behind - it was only then that I could see nav and anti col lights - and even then they were so close they meant nothing
We were about 3 seconds from impact but I had watched that bit of sky for a lot longer - not knowing what I was seeing
The other pilot had absolutely no idea I was there [I was low (under) in his 2 o'clock] - or behind him when he leveled off and rolled wings level to continue down wind
That night I saved our lives - but it was only by luck and good fortune
And yes - I had been passed Traffic Information - which is why I was looking where I was at the time
It is a big sky - but not that big
Over the last few days this mental video has played over and over to me when I think about it
This little story may stick in the memory and save someone else one day
To add: What the controller would have seen - if he had seen anything - was two aircraft deconflicting beautifully, as one joined and the other positioned behind