The Nation - News from Oct. 5, 1987

Pilots reported 40% more near-collisions in the air this summer than during the same period last year, and 1987 could become one of the worst years for close calls in more than a decade, a newspaper reported. During June, July and August, 334 near-collisions were reported, up from 238 reported for those months last year, the Philadelphia Inquirer said. Jim Burnett, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said: “We still have a relatively high risk, compared to previous years, of a midair collision.” The newspaper, citing FAA records, said pilots reported 752 incidents between Jan. 1 and Aug. 30, contrasted with 840 near-collisions reported in all of 1986. Commercial aircraft have been involved in 40% of this year’s reported near-collisions, the newspaper said.