There is a report that 2 Air Mauritius (A320s) flights is opposite directions passed each other with around 1000 metres separating them sometime this month. Disaster was apparently avoided when the automated system software took control of each aircraft and disengaged manual control.
Does FlightAware have data available to validate this report?
1000 meters is a kilometer. Why would that be an issue?
Aircraft Separation – How Do The Rules Keep You Safe? - Simple Flying
ICAO states that the minimum vertical separation between aircraft under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) varies by altitude. Below 29,000 feet (FL290), this minimum is set at 1,000 feet of vertical distance. Above FL290, aircraft are typically required to maintain a vertical distance of at least 2,000 vertical feet.
However, to increase capacity at higher altitudes, some airspace is subject to Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM). In these areas, aircraft at higher altitudes must only be separated by 1,000 vertical feet.
PS: Divide feet by about 3 to get meters.
That is vertical distance. What is the horizontal distance requirement?
Generally, 5 nm. but may be decreased to 3 nm. in the terminal environment or increased to 8 nm. for wake turbulence separation with the actual separation determined by the types of the aircraft involved. A small aircraft behind a super aircraft will require 8 nm. For the USA, FAA JO7110.65 gives you all the details.
Seems like it was pretty close to me… much less than 1000m… ?
Near Collision TCAS Alert!!!
On January 6th, two Air Mauritius flights MK015 and MK042 nearly collide whilst flying over South Susan’s airspace.
Flight MK042, requested to climb to 40,000ft. Air Traffic Control approved the climb. As flight MK042 was passing 39,000ft, the crew received a TCAS Alert from an Air Mauritius flight MK015, which was cruising at 39,000ft in the oncoming direction.
Both flight MK042 and MK015 received a TCAS Alert. Flight MK015 immediately descended to 38,600ft and flight MK042 expedited the climb to 40,000ft.
An investigation is now underway.
Those are feet, not meters.
Indeed… see the 1st post speaks about 1000 meters.