About the second point though, concern about mid-airs is definitely high
on many pilots worry lists: See and avoid MEANs that others actions can
definitely have an "impact" on your own safety in the air. Read the
just-released transcript of the tower's communications with the ill-fated
150 that had a mid-air in Washington.



Of course it can happen, and does. And ground casualties can and do happen.
The number of people though who can say their lives or the lives of their
loved ones have been affected by an accident to an airplane in which they
were not travelling is extremely small. Of course it requires vigilance by
all pilots to avoid air-to-air collisions, and of course it requires
sensible operating practice to avoid endangering residents on the ground,
but pilots tend largely to be both vigilant and sensible.

Most of us take some satisfaction in knowing that we are unlikely to be
gratuitously killed by a negligent pilot other than ourselves! This is not
true on the road, where thousands are killed every year despite their being
cautious, sensible drivers.

G Faris