How should you handle a near-miss with an aircraft?

• A. Continue to the next task and report later.
• B. Stop, report, and complete incident reporting; maintain log of time and details; coordinate with ATC.
• C. Take photos and post about it.
• D. Ignore it and pretend nothing happened.

Answer: (B)

When a near-miss occurs, immediate, systematic action is essential to protect people and air operations. Stop what you’re doing, report the incident right away, and complete the incident report with precise details. Keep a log of the time and what happened, and coordinate with ATC so they’re aware of the risk and can adjust traffic management as needed. This sequence ensures the event is properly documented, investigated, and used to prevent repetition, while keeping airspace safe.

Other approaches don’t provide the necessary safety and accountability. Delaying reporting undermines the investigation and corrective actions. Taking photos and posting them can create safety and privacy issues. Ignoring it completely leaves potential hazards unaddressed and puts others at risk.