Narrative:

IFR training flight, IFR, clearance, level at 4000 MSL, caught a glimpse of aircraft approaching from 8 O'clock position, took control of aircraft and made steep right turn. Upon reporting traffic, was told 'just now saw him...he's already gone (going) by'. Other aircraft was commuter small transport flight inbound to albany, ny. We were in level flight, and it appeared to me that small transport maintained 4000 MSL while flying up the hudson river into alb. Don't airlines (commuters) have to follow IFR/VFR regulations concerning appropriate altitudes? And what ever happened to 'see and avoid'? The controller was of no help, and small transport didn't say a word.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX GA-SMA COMMUTER-SMT 25 NM SOUTH OF ALB.

Narrative: IFR TRAINING FLT, IFR, CLRNC, LEVEL AT 4000 MSL, CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF ACFT APCHING FROM 8 O'CLOCK POSITION, TOOK CONTROL OF ACFT AND MADE STEEP RIGHT TURN. UPON REPORTING TFC, WAS TOLD 'JUST NOW SAW HIM...HE'S ALREADY GONE (GOING) BY'. OTHER ACFT WAS COMMUTER SMT FLT INBND TO ALBANY, NY. WE WERE IN LEVEL FLT, AND IT APPEARED TO ME THAT SMT MAINTAINED 4000 MSL WHILE FLYING UP THE HUDSON RIVER INTO ALB. DON'T AIRLINES (COMMUTERS) HAVE TO FOLLOW IFR/VFR REGS CONCERNING APPROPRIATE ALTS? AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO 'SEE AND AVOID'? THE CTLR WAS OF NO HELP, AND SMT DIDN'T SAY A WORD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.