![]() | This is how your last three seconds could look to an F-16 pilot. |
We could just give up and rely on the "Big Sky - Little Airplane" theory of
collision avoidance, but maybe there are some things we can do to improve our
chances of success. One is to know where traffic is more likely to be and avoid
those areas when it is reasonable to do so. If it is not, then at least exercise
extra caution. Some of the places where airplanes are more likely to be include,
airports and airways for civilian aircraft and special use airspace and Military
Training Routes for military aircraft. In the following table we show examples
of these along with some of the restrictions and precautions related to their
use.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() Military Operations Areas (MOAs) have a magenta crosshatched border. Information about their times of use and the applicable altitudes can be found on the border of the chart. No clearance is necessary for operation in MOAs, but glider pilots should exercise caution when the area is active. |
![]() | ![]() Alert Areas are also depicted with blue crosshatched borders. That is difficult to see in this illustration because most of the Alert Area's border coincides with the magenta boundary of Class E airspace beginning at 700 feet AGL. Alert Areas, like MOAs, require no clearance, but extra caution is advised. |
FAR 61.89 further restricts Student Pilots to three mile visibility during
the day and five miles at night. FAR 91.155 has a couple of exceptions for
airplane and helicopter pilots but none for gliders.
Return to: Top 10 ways to fail your checkride...