View from 39,000ft of an Airbus A320 flying at 36,000ft at 500mph over France

An unusual view of a First Choice Airbus A320 flying at 36,000ft, taken from a Jet2 Boeing 737 flying at 39,000ft, taken over the South of France. The First Choice aircraft had been flying more or less parallel with our aircraft since the Isle of Wight. Once we had crossed the Pyrenees we veered towards Barcelona as we were heading for Ibiza, whilst the First Choice aircraft headed straight South towards Malaga. Both aircraft were traveling at a ground speed of 500 miles per hour.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• aerial view
• aeroplane
• plane
• aircraft
• airbus
• a320
• south of france

[loneaxolotl]

Such a unique video. Cool!

[stuartmoss]

@loneaxolotl Thanks!

[craigwright1000]

Do they not maintain a 5 mile separation for IFR aircraft?

[stuartmoss]

@craigwright1000 I guess not...

[festiwalpraski]

if you were at 39000 ft than the other aircraft was rather at 37000 or 35000 ft. Parallel routes have usually both even or odd altitude values. This helps avoiding collisions with aircraft travelling at different directions

[stuartmoss]

@festiwalpraski Thanks for clearing that up, I was just guessing the altitude of the other aircraft from our own.

[valarmanwe]

It looks to me as if there is yet a third plane between :0:27 and 0:47 flying some few thousand feet below, in the same direction ( about 5/6 th up the way of the video screen ) Take a look. Is it another plane, or is it an artefact of the observers camera / plane window ?

[Harti2000]

Good camera work, smooth flight :-)

[NEVADAUNDERGROUND]

FIRST CHOICE

[mmtot]

@valarmanwe I think its a reflection of the cabin from the window.

[flyinthebug35]

@valarmanwe Absolutely agreed! Im just not sure its a plane. You see a "tail" of some sort, but I cant define what exactly it is?? Anyone else? Opinions?

[craigwright1000]

@MiGutzu ;-)

[MiGutzu]

@craigwright1000 But they maintain the flight level separation ;)

[laserstun]

Look at those contrails forming! It gives you an idea how fast the jet is really flying.