"Pre-owned,""near miss," "s/he"

[Dennis R. Preston]

I guess nobody missed my "ordinary language" proviso. (I don't read
the Airman's Information manual).

dInIs



>In a message dated 9/28/01 9:39:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
>preston at PILOT.MSU.EDU writes:
>
>>  Hmmm. "Near miss" also has very precise meaning in the way I use it
>>   (having no artillery experience); two airplanes (usually, although I
>>   admit other vehicles to the construction) come dangerously close but
>>   do not hit, and there is no damage. I think that's pretty precise, as
>>   ordinary language goes.
>
>>>From the 1993 edition (only one I have) of the AIrman's Information Manual,
>page 276, section 7-83 "NEAR MIDAIR COLLISION REPORTING"
>
>"b.  Definition---A near midair collision is defined as an incident
>associated with the operation of an aircraft in which a possibility of
>collision occurs as a result of proximity of less than 500 feet to another
>aircraft, or a report is received from a pilot or a flight crew member
>stating that a collision hazard existed between two or more aircraft."
>
>Undoubtedly "near miss" is frequently used as a short-hand term for "Near
>Mid-Air Collision."
>
>Instead of your phrase "dangerously close",  AIM 7-83b above is more
>specific: "possibility of collision" or (referring to a flight crew member's
>opinion) a "collision hazard".
>
>Your phrase "there is no damage" is overly optimistic.  Among the "Items To
>Be Reported" in section 7-83e is "10.  Injuries, if any."  There is no
>requirement to report damage, if any, to either aircraft, but I imagine that
>if any damage occurs, it will get reported.  (Yes, it is possible for an
>airplane to sustain damage as the result of an evasive maneuver.)
>
>Also, 7-83 ends with the ominous words "When the investigation reveals a
>violation of an FAA regulation, enforcement action will be pursued."
>
>I once saw the transcript of the radio communications during such an
>incident.  Both pilots requested the tower to provide them with the phone
>number for reporting the incident.
>
>       - Jim Landau
>         Systems Enginner
>         Federal Aviation Administration Technical Center (ACT-350/BCI)
>         Atlantic City Airport NJ 08405 USA

--
Dennis R. Preston
Department of Linguistics and Languages
Michigan State University
East Lansing MI 48824-1027 USA
preston at pilot.msu.edu
Office: (517)353-0740
Fax: (517)432-2736