Military planes collide while in formation because of mis judging inertia, I 
don't think it made any difference here. Feet or meters, it's just a number on 
a dial. That's what most people don't understand, it would take I flight with a 
meter altimeter and altitudes in meters to get used to it. As long as you have 
only meters. Nowadays, just push a button or select it from the menu.

Mike Payne
On 30/08/2011, at 20:19 , Kilopascal wrote:

> But in the Soviet era, the Lithuanians flew in metres.  They may not be used 
> to feet or don't understand them and thus easily make mistakes.  On top of 
> it, they have to speak English when flying.   You put two difficult task 
> together; trying to communicate in a language you barely understand and on 
> top of it measurement units you have no feel for, then it is no surprise a 
> mishap like this occurred.
>  
> I'm sure it will be blamed on pilot error.
>  
>  
>    
> [USMA:51038] Re: planes collide
> 
> John Frewen-Lord
> Tue, 30 Aug 2011 06:11:52 -0700
> 
> Thanks for that John.
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: John M. Steele 
>   To: U.S. Metric Association ; [email protected] 
>   Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 2:06 PM
>   Subject: Re: [USMA:51036] planes collide
> 
> 
>         Lithuania apparently flies in feet, as does France and NATO.
> 
>         http://www.vfrguide.com/visual-flight-rules/lithuania
> 
>         Another version of the article states two Mirage jets and a 
> Lithuanian 
> military jet were on joint patrol.  I assume they were in formation, more 
> closely spaced than normal ATC separations and were "one big aircraft" to 
> ATC.  
> Two of the pilots failed to maintain visual separation.  The Mirage was 
> damaged 
> but landed.  The Lithuanian jet crashed but the pilots ejected.
> 
>         As one plane landed, I assume the damage was not extensive, but on 
> the 
> Lithuanian aircraft, was to a critical control surface, resulting in an 
> unflyable plane.
>         --- On Tue, 8/30/11, John Frewen-Lord <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> 
>           From: John Frewen-Lord <[email protected]>
>           Subject: [USMA:51036] planes collide
>           To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
>           Date: Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 6:54 AM
> 
> 
>           In view of recent discussions on aircraft altitudes, I wonder if 
> that 
> may be behind this accident today, involving both Nato and Baltic state 
> aircraft.
> 
>           http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14715235
> 
>           We'll probably never know, sadly.
> 
>           John F-L 

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