How normal is this?

Lmao_Man

I know nothing about aircraft so pardon my ignorance.

But the other day I was on a flight coming in to Dublin and we were at cruising height. I noticed another plane close to my own and kept an eye on it, a few minutes later it was so close that I could read British airways on it?

It seemed to be roughly at the same height as the plane I was on, which I always thought wasn't really allowed at close distance. Afterwards the pilot seemed to go higher which I assume was to move out of the way.

Completely normal or not? Just wondering.

Bsal

Totally normal at cruise level the minimum vertical separation is 1000ft.

folbotcar

It's normal. It would have been well within laid down separation rules. Plus ATC would have both on radar AND both aircraft have TCAS. A collision avoidance system which would alert the crews if there was any loss of separation.

So perfectly safe. But interesting to see another jet so close.

basill

Throw RVSM into a search engine OP. All will be revealed.

amen

Trying a time trans-con flight in the USA with a mid day arrival into New York with some heavy localised rain in New York so all the planes are in holding pattern approx 200 miles away in clear weather. Planes above and below you all flying a race track pattern. Interesting but freaky