Fact. If either aircraft had flown a parallel offset then they would not have collided. As BOAC says, ‘the 737 has a 'default' 0.1NM right offset available at all times with a couple of button presses’.
This raises, to me, a very interesting question. Why did the designers of every Long Range Nav, from Delco/Litton INS to all current equipment, include the ability to fly offset with ‘a couple of button presses’.
This is a genuine question to which I’d appreciate knowledgeable answers.
I can only think that this feature was included to help prevent two 500 Knot radomes meeting up. Am I wrong? Was there another reason?
If I’m right, then surely the designers/manufacturers/authorities had an obligation to insist on this being automatic on later equipment.
Am I missing something?