This is a spectacular video of going head to head with an Emirates A380, which goes past just 300m above the “camera” aircraft.
Emirates Airbus A380 1000ft above! ✈️ pic.twitter.com/vdfGo3ZkoQ
— Airplane Pictures ✈ (@ilove_aviation) August 24, 2019
Aircraft flying in the same direction are separated by 2000ft while aircraft flying in the opposite direction, the same separation, but at even altitudes, thus aircraft flying in the opposite direction to each other are just 1000ft apart.
WATCH: Amazing skill of a Boeing 757 crew landing in strong cross winds.
Separations of just 1000ft are standard today for suitably equipped jets with the sophistication of autopilots and cockpit automation as well as satellites.
Suitability equipped jets are described as Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM).
Within RVSM airspace (between FL290 and FL410 inclusive) the vertical separation minimum is:
- 1000ft (300m) between RVSM-approved aircraft, and
- 2000ft (600m) between non-RVSM approved state aircraft and any other aircraft operating within RVSM airspace.
- 2000ft (600m) between non-RVSM aircraft operating as general air traffic (GAT) and any other aircraft within RVSM airspace.
