Vanblair
The traffic information was "called" to you, albeit under a BS, because the information available to the controller was that there was a risk of collision - possibly based on unvalidated Mode C data (or no Mode C at all). Taking into account the possible error, plus the accepted tolerance, plus the potential for either or both aircraft to change level imminently by a couple of hundred feet, you can see that once you sight that traffic it might well be - in your judgement only, of course - sufficiently clear of you vertically. As regards the opposite direction avoiding action as required by the rules of the air, remember that any radar has a certain tolerance and you cannot infer that traffic reported at 12 o'clock will require both aircraft to turn right - the avoiding action has to be based on your visual perception, or your guess at what might be sensible if you do not have the traffic in sight.
2 s
Last edited by 2 sheds; 23rd Oct 2012 at 12:28.