In flight aircraft spotting!

hypersonic

I was flying home from Franfurt to Dublin (20:40) and we passed an Aer lingus A320 going the other way, which was cool as it was close enough to identify airline and aircraft type. :pac:
What is the minimum separation on airline flights? from what I've read this morning it is 1000ft vertically with no required minimum horizontal distance, is this right?
Also is there an app that will give you possible near pass on fight you are on, as I would like to see another pass as it was pretty cool!

smurfjed

Also is there an app that will give you possible near pass on fight you are on, as I would like to see another pass as it was pretty cool!

We have an APP called TCAS, it shows the relative location of each aircraft

smurfjed

martinsvi

hypersonic wrote: »

Also is there an app that will give you possible near pass on fight you are on, as I would like to see another pass as it was pretty cool!

no, there is no such app. It's impossible to predict beforehand where two planes could pass each other - if you put a little thought to it, you'll realize that a minute lost here or there for departure and your plan will fall to pieces. also with ATC being humans - there's no way to predict them

Aced_Up

Flightradar24 is cool, but need net connection... Prob not poss inflight.

martinsvi

smurfjed wrote: »

We have an APP called TCAS, it shows the relative location of each aircraft

smurfjed

I think he/she meant an APP for a mobile device, not a feature that comes with your aircraft

hypersonic

martinsvi wrote: »

no, there is no such app. It's impossible to predict beforehand where two planes could pass each other - if you put a little thought to it, you'll realize that a minute lost here or there for departure and your plan will fall to pieces. also with ATC being humans - there's no way to predict them

a couple of minutes wouldn't bother me, I'll be staring out the window anyway.

hypersonic

martinsvi wrote: »

I think he/she meant an APP for a mobile device, not a feature that comes with your aircraft

an app would be perfect I'd check just before I hoped on the plane. I'd need to know which way to look, eg up down left right. I'm probably asking a bit much but it would be cool, and something to pass the time in the sky.

o1s1n

Aced_Up wrote: »

Flightradar24 is cool, but need net connection... Prob not poss inflight.

I live in Clontarf right under an approach path. Lately Ive been looking at that site and watching as they come in low over the house.

Its mad hearing the noise off in the distance and then the roar when it goes over the house. Like its adding SFX to that website :pac:

Aced_Up

o1s1n wrote: »

I live in Clontarf right under an approach path. Lately Ive been looking at that site and watching as they come in low over the house.

Its mad hearing the noise off in the distance and then the roar when it goes over the house. Like its adding SFX to that website :pac:

You can add even more depth!!

LiveATC
You can listen to the pilots and tower talk to each other as the approach or depart.

Tenger

Aced_Up wrote: »

Flightradar24 is cool, but need net connection... Prob not poss inflight.

Flightradar is unable to pin point your location in order to orient itself.

Locker10a

martinsvi wrote: »

I think he/she meant an APP for a mobile device, not a feature that comes with your aircraft

TCAS does come built in aircraft!! Traffic Collision avoidance system

Aced_Up

Tenger wrote: »

Flightradar is unable to pin point your location in order to orient itself.

How do you mean?

If you have a net connection and GPS it can. If you see a aircraft in the distance, you use the augmented reality function and point the iphone in the direction of the aircraft and an icon appears with all the details.

Bummer1234

Aced_Up wrote: »

How do you mean?

If you have a net connection and GPS it can. If you see a aircraft in the distance, you use the augmented reality function and point the iphone in the direction of the aircraft and an icon appears with all the details.

Just to add thats with the paid version app, One of the best i have i gotta say.

Tenger

Aced_Up wrote: »

How do you mean?

If you have a net connection and GPS it can........

I was referring to Wi-Fi inflight while at FL380......tried it before.

coylemj

hypersonic wrote: »

What is the minimum separation on airline flights? from what I've read this morning it is 1000ft vertically with no required minimum horizontal distance, is this right?

It must be something along those lines. I was on a flight once, sitting by the left window and while we were at cruising altitude I was looking down to the ground as the sky was clear. Suddenly an aircraft coming from our right passed directly below us and out the side I was on, it must have been at the minimum vertical separation cause it looked real close! On an ATC screen the two planes would have appeared on a collision course if it were not for the vertical separation.