Traffic Alert based on CPA (Closest Point of Approach)

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HomeHomeDiscussionsDiscussionsiFly Wish-ListiFly Wish-ListTraffic Alert based on CPA (Closest Point of Approach)Traffic Alert based on CPA (Closest Point of Approach)
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4/17/2020 5:08 PM
 

I'm a new pilot (no ppl yet) and have been learning the features of iFly. I especially like replaying a flight using the ADSB Playback featue to experiment with instrument layout, route following and traffic alert settings.

I come from the maritime world and we have long had AIS, an analogus feature to ADSB. The best aspect of the marine version provides us with the CPA (Closest Point of Approach) of traffic we are overtaking or meeting.

I'd like to see a setting in iFly that would alarm based on a prediction of the CPA of other aircraft to us. If we and the traffic maintain our current flight speed, decent/climb or level flight and direction, how close will we pass? 500', 1000', 0'?  

This would reduce the frequency of alerts, which will increase the significance of alerts when they do occur.

Thanks for a great product!

Best Regards,

Paul

 

 
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4/17/2020 6:02 PM
 

I'm not sure if the OP's suggestion is the exact approach (pardon the pun) to take, but I would like to say that it's annoying to get alerts about aircraft that are around me (especially BEHIND me) that clearly pose no danger based on our relative headings and speeds.  I think it's too gross of a trigger to say just because an aircraft is within x NM of my aircraft I should be warned.  Granted, if it's within a certain absolute distance then I do need to be warned regardless of current relative conditions because that could change quickly and the situation could get dangerous. 


Powrachute PC 2000; Aventura II; Cherokee 180
 
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4/20/2020 3:33 PM
 

I've been watching some AOPA safety videos, one discussing a head-on near disaster that left 3' of the end of the right wing embeded in the left wing of another plane during flight. (Both landed safely!).

If iFly could alert me to any target that might approach closer than say 1,000', from any direction (headon, overtaking, crossing, etc.), with a yellow alert that would be helpful.

If due to a change in my flight path or his, the target is now expected to be within 500', then a more vigorous alarm, maybe with a "pull up" or "Turn Right Now" or other appropriate change in flight path to increase the calculated passing distance to the other aircraft, could be very useful.

 

 

 
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4/26/2020 8:32 AM
 

Hook,

I see your point, but...I fly a SLOW airplane so threats from BEHIND are especailly important to me in an overtake situation. (I like the alerts from ALL vectors.)

I fly a high-wing and almost had a low wing land on top of me at Frederick Airport (pre-tower days) because he was coming in above and behind me in a nose up attitude...luckily, someone on the ground had a radio and waved him off.

This was all prior to ADSB and iFly, but threats from BEHIND for slower aircraft are perhaps the most important because we just can't see them coming all that well.  Otherwise, I concur with your analysis.  Thanks, and good points, Hook. 

Respectfully, Mike N714AJ

 
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4/26/2020 10:06 AM
 

Yeah, it wasn't 100% clear in my post, but I was saying that it's especially annoying to me if the aircraft is behind me on a divergent course (or a slower speed).

But I think that if the aircraft is within a certain time frame of me, based on whichever of us is faster (or adding our two speeds together?), then I should be warned regardless of our current relative positions and course since one or both of us could change course and create a collision. 

But in the case of an aircraft behind me (even if he's faster), the chance of this issue coming up is lower than an aircraft ahead of me.  ("Ahead" being within a span of 30-45 degrees to either side of my current course.  Or maybe "ahead" should be an aircraft that is x minutes (e.g. 2 minutes) to either side of my current course line, based on his speed.  That way, if he suddenly changed to a course that was perpendicular to my course, then there'd still be 2 minutes for me to change course.)  Anyway, I think that this could be what the OP getting at: that the software could be looking at possible points of intersection.  I think we should be warned if there's a possibility of intersection (or getting really close), and not just if another aircraft is within a circle of x distance of me -- especially if we're mutually heading away from each other.


Powrachute PC 2000; Aventura II; Cherokee 180
 
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