What is the best technique for scanning for other traffic during flight?

The best technique for scanning for other traffic during flight is a series of short, spaced eye movements covering 10-degree segments of the sky. This method allows a pilot to be systematic and thorough in their visual search. By breaking the sky into manageable segments, the pilot can focus on each area for a brief moment, increasing the likelihood of spotting other aircraft. This technique capitalizes on the human eye's ability to detect motion and recognize shapes, making it more effective than a continuous sweeping glance which can cause a pilot to miss important visual cues as it might lead to a lack of focused attention on any specific area.

In contrast, looking only in the direction of turns would limit visibility to just that one area, potentially missing crossing traffic. Relying purely on cockpit instruments for traffic monitoring fails to provide the complete situational awareness necessary for avoiding collision with other aircraft in the vicinity. Therefore, the segmented scanning approach stands out as the most effective strategy for maintaining awareness of surrounding air traffic.