How do airplanes travel in air without colliding with each other?

Question

there are lots of planes taking off at a time and many travel in opposite directions at the same time? so how is it that all of them dont collide and why dont we see one in air?

Answer 1

The eyes have it. It's a big sky out there; really big. That and a clean window are the biggest collision avoidance devices that exist.

Answer 2

air traffic controllers are always monitering the skies and they have onboard radar wich helps

Answer 3

By not hitting other airplanes.

Answer 4

we pilots sure try to complicate answers don't we? it's simpler than many make it out to be here. mostly we look out the window.

Answer 5

Eyes.

Answer 6

there's a few factors contributing to the lack of collisions

- size of the sky. no explanation necessary i hope.

- vision. pilots can detect another airplane on a collision course by sight

-ATC. air traffic controllers make sure aircraft near congested areas such as airports have safe separation and follow their filed flight plans, and direct 'lost' aircraft away from danger

-TCAS. Traffic collision system. it is a radar system mounted on most large aircraft that calculate the course speed and altitude of each other plane and warn the pilot if another plane is on a collision course with them. It even calculates the proper corrective action ( climb, descent), and orally tells the pilot.

-airways. like highways in the sky, they're marked by radio navigation points on the ground such as VORs and in conjunction with air traffic controllers, it is near impossible to collide with something in that airway. it is considered restricted airspace and can only be used by those who have filed a flight plan, and thus those who are being watch over by ATC

Answer 7

Why you dont see an airplane in the air?  Lots of airspace and air pollution.  Look for the condensation trails their massive jet engines leave a few miles long.  Why dont other airplanes see other airplanes often in the air unless you know where to look?  TCAS (traffic collision and avoidance system) actually picks up the transponder RF and displays it on a little LCD read out or a mounted cockpit display.  This only works if the aircraft has an operating transponder though!  You only need an xponder in certain class airspace or if you want ATC to more easily provide services.  Aircraft with an EAST COURSE fly at ODD altitudes and WEST COURSES fly at EVEN altitudes.  Fighters and military aircraft only carry airborne search/fire control radar.  Civilian jets carry weather radar/storm scope if you will.

Answer 8

Air Traffic Controllers

They are the smart people that coordinate aircraft flightpaths.

Answer 9

they have a system installed called TCAS - traffic collision avoiding system plus they are guide from the ATC - air traffic control towers during approaches and take off

Answer 10

Large plane have collision detection radars.  Even so they get directions from air traffic to avoid collision.  Also planes follow "air corridors" (sort of like sky hwys) that most planes going the same way all use.  So planes going from NYC to L.A. all follow the general corridor.

Small planes do it by visual methods.

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If you ever go up on a small plane (in pilot or co-pilot seat) you will realize that there's a lot of space and very little traffic.

Good Luck...

Answer 11

every ariplanes in air have a strong Radar on it and radar shows to pilot every things around the airplanes .

Answer 12

Because pilots are told what direction and altitude to travel by air traffic controllers.  Major airports have local controllers and once the plane leaves their airspace, they are handed off to other controllers.

Answer 13

When an aeroplane takes off, it has already booked a flight plan.  The aircraft fly at different heights to avoid colliding with each other, essentially they are layered in the sky.

Answer 14

Would mostly agree with Aviopage.  First, I've flown airplanes thousands of miles with no radio, much less talking to ATC (it was quite pleasant).

I didn't see TCAS until I got on with an airline.

Only the F-16 I flew had radar capable of air-to-air paints.

But every single one of them had this thing called a window that you could actually look out of and see other aircraft through.

While I appreciate ATC pointing out traffic when I'm talking to them, and there are regulations that specific altitudes for direction of flight (I've seen people get it wrong though), and TCAS is nice to help with a visual pick up.  Still nothing beats the Mk I Eyeball.

As the old fighter pilot saying goes, "Sight is life, speed is merely groovy."