Military
Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60; Flight Crew Total 1200; Flight Crew Type 15
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
Conflict Airborne Conflict
General None Reported / Taken
Airspace Structure; Procedure
In cruise flight at 10;500 ft at about 240 kts GS; contacted Center to request flight following and was given a squawk. Within 5 minutes was told leaving sector and to squawk VFR; and try to contact [the next controlling agency] if desired. About 1 minute later while looking up the frequency for next possible controller; I looked up and was shocked to see a regional airliner crossing immediately overhead; passing from west to east. I had not changed altitude; speed or heading.I've never passed that close to another aircraft without being in formation with them. I can't imagine the controller was unaware of how close we passed; and I feel certain the airliner must have had TCAS activated by the encounter. The encounter really shook me for several minutes; which later turned to anger; as I never would have expected to be that close to another aircraft; especially a passenger aircraft if either of us were in contact with ATC. Perhaps the airliner had received an advisory and had me in sight; but I doubt it as [my aircraft] is camouflaged and very difficult to see in flight.I plan to call ATC to ask about the incident; and hope I will learn that the situation was in fact under control. Regardless; I feel strongly that I should have been advised before being dismissed from the freq.; if just out of courtesy.
The reporter stated that he was on a return trip from an air show when he encountered an airliner passed about 500 ft overhead. The reporter stated that he was in cruise at about 10;500 ft; and just released by ATC to another sector. While changing frequency on the radio to communicate with the next sector; an airliner passed overhead without warning from ATC. The Reporter stated that he feels the controller should have warn him of the airliner passing over him. The reporter also stated that it startled him quite a bit. The reported stated that he has not contacted ATC about the incident.
The pilot of a vintage military aircraft reported that while in cruise an airliner crossed overhead without warning.