Final answer:
The safe operation and navigation of airplanes in the airspace system are managed by air traffic control through FAA regulations, which enforce specific spacing requirements, and by the use of advanced navigation and radar systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability of airplanes to safely navigate airspace without collisions is a feat of air traffic control, regulations, and technology. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets strict rules for air traffic, requiring commercial airplanes to maintain a five-mile lateral distance from each other at the same altitude, as well as a vertical separation of 2,000 feet, or 1,000 feet if below 29,000 feet in altitude. These restrictions ensure that airplanes have specific slots in the airspace, much like electrons in quantum mechanics are restricted in their positions around an atomic nucleus.
Advanced navigation systems and instrumentation, such as radar, allow for precise monitoring of aircraft positions even in conditions where visual tracking is impossible due to weather or other visibility impediments. These systems enable air traffic controllers to maintain an effective air defense perimeter and ensure the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.