Final answer:
Commercial airliners fly safely due to specific FAA regulations that mandate horizontal and vertical separation distances and an advanced air traffic control system. These measures ensure aircraft maintain safe distances at all times, comparable to electron positioning restrictions in quantum mechanics. Rules such as these, however, are subject to change for inclusivity, as demonstrated by the updated US Air Force height requirement for pilots.
Step-by-step explanation:
So many planes are able to fly without running into each other primarily because of the meticulously structured Flight Regulations enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These regulations ensure that each commercial airliner maintains a safe distance from others in the air: specifically, a minimum horizontal separation of five miles from another aircraft at the same altitude and a vertical separation of 2,000 feet above or below another aircraft, or 1,000 feet if flying below 29,000 feet. Additionally, there's an advanced air traffic control system that utilizes radar and satellite technology to keep track of all aircraft in the skies, communicating with pilots to manage their positions and avoid any potential conflicts.
Similar to the clear regulations that govern airplane flight paths, the field of quantum mechanics illustrates that electrons also have specific restrictions on where they can exist around the nucleus of an atom, drawing a parallel between macro-level aviation operations and micro-level physical phenomena.
However, rules can sometimes inadvertently favor certain groups. For instance, the previous US Air Force height requirement for pilots, which was between 5 feet 4 inches and 6 feet 5 inches, effectively excluded over 40 percent of American women and had to be modified to be more inclusive. This exemplifies how rules can shape opportunities and can be adapted for fairness and inclusion across a broader range of individuals.