Private Pilot Private Exam

How can you determine if another aircraft is on a collision course with your aircraft?

1. There will be rapid relative motion between your aircraft and the other aircraft

2. There will be no apparent relative motion between your aircraft and the other aircraft

3. You will see the other aircraft's navigation lights

4. You will hear the other aircraft's engine noise

The correct answer is: There will be no apparent relative motion between your aircraft and the other aircraft

To determine if another aircraft is on a collision course with your aircraft, the correct concept is that there will be no apparent relative motion between your aircraft and the other aircraft. If the other aircraft is on a true collision course, it will appear to remain in the same position relative to your aircraft, which means you will not observe any significant movement or change in its position in your field of view. This condition occurs because the two aircraft are moving toward each other along a shared path, making it seem as though they are stationary relative to one another until they are quite close. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for maintaining situational awareness and recognizing potential traffic conflicts in the sky. The other factors, such as rapid relative motion, visibility of navigation lights, or hearing engine noise, may not reliably indicate a collision course. Rapid motion can indicate that the aircraft is on an intercept path but not necessarily a collision course. Visibility of navigation lights and engine noise relate more to situational awareness and less to the determination of a collision course itself.