RVScooter
Member
I'm still working to get my PPL. Yesterday I was up flying with an instructor and something happened that for the first time really made me question the safety of what we all love to do even when doing it correctly.
In preparation for my check ride, we were in class E airspace quite a distance from the closest airport practicing maneuvers. That all went well. We then did a simulated emergency descent like you would as if there were smoke in the cockpit. Here's the thing. Just as we pulled out of the descent, I noticed another plane popping out from below us at our 10 o'clock and I'm guessing less than 500 feet below us. To date, nothing has given me more pause when it comes to the safety of flying. If either of us were in a slightly different position or if the odds were against us, all occupants of both craft could possibly be dead right now.
My question now is, how could I, as the pilot of the quickly descending aircraft, ensure that there isn't anyone coming up on me in that gigantic blind spot beneath me? Are we really leaving that all up to chance or is there something I'm missing?
In preparation for my check ride, we were in class E airspace quite a distance from the closest airport practicing maneuvers. That all went well. We then did a simulated emergency descent like you would as if there were smoke in the cockpit. Here's the thing. Just as we pulled out of the descent, I noticed another plane popping out from below us at our 10 o'clock and I'm guessing less than 500 feet below us. To date, nothing has given me more pause when it comes to the safety of flying. If either of us were in a slightly different position or if the odds were against us, all occupants of both craft could possibly be dead right now.
My question now is, how could I, as the pilot of the quickly descending aircraft, ensure that there isn't anyone coming up on me in that gigantic blind spot beneath me? Are we really leaving that all up to chance or is there something I'm missing?