That dangerous period somewhere between 100 and 500 hours.
I'm taking a Navajo down the coast of a third world country, 900 miles and I'm going to stop halfway down.
I have done this trip in both directions about 4 times now and it is a breeze. Like most days, CAVOK, the odd puffy cloud over the coast. Very little traffic and standard reporting points.
With 50 miles to run I called the halfway stop." xxx TWR, **- AUB at position DENGU, FL 90, descending at plus 7 ."
"*****/****descent to 2000' on 1015 approved."
Standard - exactly like before. There is a huge puffy cloud 10 miles ahead and slightly in land. I have 7 minutes before I need to do anything so after a good look around decide to pre-plan the next sector.
"****TWR, United Nations 312 at position DENGU, 3,000....."
I hear the call, think crikey he must be close, ah yes but he's at 3000, I'm 9,000 - 2mB, relax - quick scan inside and out,back to pre-plotting.
I finish just as the big cloud is filling the windshield, take the auto-pilot off and crank around (VMC)to the east to avoid.
As I reach the back of the cloud I come face to face with UN 312, who has gone around the other side of the cloud. UN312 is an Antonov 126 - the Russian crew operate in metres not feet. Tree tousand was really 9,000 feet
Antonov 126's are large not huge - but this one coming straight for me was Łu*king gigantic!
I pushed fwd and managed to avoid him BUT I learned that complacency was not a good ingredient for longevity in aviation.
sNr