bogus wrote:
Quote:

Matt26R wrote:
It's pretty common to see other aircraft if you fly on a regular basis. A few years ago the Feds changed the separation requirements at altitudes above 29000'. Now we only have 1000' vertical between the aircraft vs 2000' previously (Westbound aircraft fly at even altitudes and eastbound traffic is at an odd altitude).

The airplanes and crew have to be RVSM certfied to fly above 29k so it isn't a big deal. Better avionics,etc....

I've been a professional pilot for 20 years (9500+hours) fwiw. I currently fly a Hawker 800 (corporate jet). I don't have any horror stories for you.....it's all good up there!

I like to say that Aviation is 100% successful. "We've never left one up there"

yea, well... that's a spin on it... but that sudden impact with terra firma really puts a ding on that stat.

Southwest had a tire explode in Texas after landing. Damned thing caught fire. I am guessing the brake locked up... all sorts of heat was there. Toss in a rupture hydraulic line - poof.

No one hurt. SWA is the only airline without a fatal crash. I qualify that one - there was one when they landed at O'hare. The plane landed, but the runway was slick and poorly cared for. The plane ran off the runway, hitting a car, killing occupants of the car, including a child. Sad, but not the airlines fault, really. The planes passengers were all safe.