LightOfMyLife
Well-known
That was kind and respectful of the fireman and former active duty Marine.
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Army Black Hawk Collides with Passenger Jet Over Potomac River Near DC
- Thread starter Spartan Sprinter
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1LoverofGod
Well-known
Army helicopter was flying above limit before midair collision
A U.S. Army helicopter was flying higher than permitted limits when it collided in midair with an American Airlines Group Inc. regional jet last week, according to U.S. aviation safety investigators.
The altitude of both aircraft are central issues to investigators working to unravel how the worst U.S. civil aviation disaster in decades occurred, and how to prevent similar accidents from happening again.
The National Transportation Safety Board said on Tuesday that its latest data shows the Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk was flying at about 300 feet at the time of the accident, about 100 feet higher than a preliminary review of radar data indicated. The updated assessment of what air traffic controllers saw on their display in the tower reflects multiple radar sensors and other data sources, the agency said.
The NTSB said it needs additional information from the Black Hawk itself, which it expects to receive after recovering it from the water later this week.
In addition to altitude, investigators have also looked into staffing at the air-traffic control tower on the night of the accident and are reviewing the maintenance records for both aircraft. The crash killed 67 people.
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Army helicopter was flying above limit before midair collision
A U.S. Army helicopter was flying higher than permitted limits when it collided in midair with an American Airlines Group
americanmilitarynews.com
It appears the altimeter on the helicopter was off by about 125 feet. While that's still too close to come to an aircraft, it's evidence that it may have truly been an accident.
I have watched multiple video analysis out there from many reliable sources, plus from my own background, there has been zero speculation it was an intentional act.
Tragic accident
Everlasting Life
By grace, through faith in Jesus
Is it possible that hacking of equipment could be at play?
Andrea and I own a true story motion picture called Taking Chance. It shows the deep respect paid to every fallen soldier. The film stars Kevin Bacon in possibly his best role ever and tells the story of how Marine Lt. Col. Michael Strobl was changed after taking an assignment to escort home the body of a 19-year-old Marine killed in Iraq. As I said, it is a true story. It has been highly praised by President Trump's former White House Chief of Staff, retired Marine General John Kelly. We've watched the film a few times and we never cease to be deeply, deeply moved. I think it's a film every American should watch.
A little more than zero since I've speculated the possibility.
I don't think so.
I attribute that to cold and windy weather affecting your personal antenna
When an aircraft is on approach they're pretty focused on the glide slope and aren't expecting other craft in the way of their approach. Though at least one set of eyes should be looking every which way for any possible traffic while the other is keeping them in the glide slope. The aircraft speed was probably in the neighborhood of a little bit under 200 knots. It's possible the helicopter folks, if they weren't doing due diligence (watching for traffic) might have never seen the aircraft until a portion of a second before collision.
I think it would have been more likely for one of the aircraft pilots to see the helicopter (which isn't moving near as fast), but in this case, not before it was too late.
Fault definitely lies with the tower, but night time conditions probably played a big role as there are lights all over the place so it is hard to interpret what you're seeing.
Ghoti Ichthus
Genesis 18:32, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Acts 5:29
Me too, back in Post #3 of this thread.
Shinobi
Well-known
If you mean with the air craft? Not likely. If you mean with the tower equipment I guess the possibility is there but you are talking about a very sophisticated hack with very specific equipment of which little if any is connected to the internet. Most of it is stand alone except connections to recording devices used the the FAA and NTSB in times of investigation. I can try making a call to my old home town tower but I am not sure any of those working there now are those I used to know. Most of them are long retired with a few already gone. But I can try.
1LoverofGod
Well-known
Air traffic controllers say FAA hiring practices, ‘immunity program,’ led to DC plane crash
Current and former air traffic controllers warn that the Federal Aviation Administration’s hiring practices and “immunity program” have led to problems, such as those that may have resulted in the recent midair collison near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The FAA’s focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hiring practices has resulted in the employment of less qualified air traffic controllers (ATCs) and a staffing shortage, former ATC's say. This, in addition to an “immunity program” that fails to hold ATCs accountable for their mistakes, are likely contributing factors American Airlines plane collided with a military helicopter on Jan. 29 that resulted in both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River near the Washington, D.C.-area airport. All 67 people aboard died.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Thursday that the helicopter’s advanced tracking system was turned off at the time of the crash. As for the FAA, an ATC tried unsuccessfully to contact the helicopter less than 30 seconds before the collision, according to audio from air traffic control.
Warned about dangers
The FAA was warned in a 2023 report that air traffic controllers were increasingly making last minute flight adjustments to deal with traffic and shortages of controllers in a trend that raised safety concerns. The safety expert report that warned America’s air traffic control system is suffering from quality-control issues and staffing shortages that put safety at risk.Complete Article
Air traffic controllers say FAA hiring practices, ‘immunity program,’ led to DC plane crash
Air traffic controllers say an FAA “immunity program” fails to hold people accountable for their mistakes, even with deadly consequences.
justthenews.com
1LoverofGod
Well-known
Vital helicopter tracking system was turned off at time of plane collision in DC, Cruz says
More information has emerged in the investigation into the mid-air collision over the Potomac River between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter, as a lawmaker reveals the chopper had turned off a vital tracking system prior to the collision.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, addressed reporters following a closed-door briefing with federal authorities investigating the collision that killed 67 people.
Cruz said the chopper had turned off its Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system.
Complete Article
Vital helicopter tracking system was turned off at time of plane collision in DC, Cruz says
The Federal Aviation Administration describes the system as “advanced surveillance technology that combines an aircraft’s positioning source, aircraft avionics, and ground infrastructure to create an accurate surveillance interface between aircraft" and air traffic control.
justthenews.com
1LoverofGod
Well-known
NTSB Reveals New Details Regarding the Deadly D.C. Mid-Air Collision
Excerpts from Article:
NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy provided several key updates, outlining the flight paths of both aircraft as they moved along portions of the Potomac River on the night of January 29 before ultimately crashing near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Homendy revealed that the Black Hawk was conducting a combined annual instrument and night vision goggle training flight. At one point, the pilot and instructor pilot reported the helicopter at different altitudes but failed to address the discrepancy.
“This particular flight was a check ride for the pilot flying the Black Hawk. Generally, a check ride is a practical exam that a pilot must pass to be qualified to perform specific aircrew or mission duties,” she explained. “The Army does three types of check rides. Instrument, annual, and night vision goggles. This was a combined annual and night vision goggle check ride. We believe… the helicopter crew was likely wearing night vision goggles throughout the flight. Given the nature of the flight.”
According to Homendy, the crew was required to discuss removing their night vision goggles before doing so, yet the cockpit recorder captured no such conversation. This strongly suggests that the crew was still using the goggles at the time of the collision — confirming the widely held belief that this may have been a contributing factor to the crash.
“We believe the… helicopter crew was likely wearing night vision goggles throughout the flight given the nature of the flight,” she said. “Additionally, had they been removed, the crew was required to have a discussion about going unaided. Let me repeat that. Had they been removed, the crew was required to have a discussion about going unaided. There is no evidence on the cockpit voice recorder — or CVR — of such a discussion.”
Complete Article
Shinobi
Well-known
I am not surprised that the transponder was off. On any given day you never see all the military planes that are actually flying. How do I know this. I live between an Army base which has H60, CH47, and others and US Naval Air Station which hosts Growlers (a kind of F18), F18s, P3s, and P8s. Both bases often fly planes near my home as they use the main Boeing factory airfield close to my house. I will hear them and go look to see what they are and see nothing on the ADS-B tracking sight or my own ADS-B set up at home. Much of what I would call tactical aircraft often fly with their transponders off unless they are doing cross country hops for what ever reason. What I can see on any given days is probably a little less than half of all the military flights up at a given time.Vital helicopter tracking system was turned off at time of plane collision in DC, Cruz says
More information has emerged in the investigation into the mid-air collision over the Potomac River between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter, as a lawmaker reveals the chopper had turned off a vital tracking system prior to the collision.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, addressed reporters following a closed-door briefing with federal authorities investigating the collision that killed 67 people.
Cruz said the chopper had turned off its Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system.
Complete Article
Vital helicopter tracking system was turned off at time of plane collision in DC, Cruz says
The Federal Aviation Administration describes the system as “advanced surveillance technology that combines an aircraft’s positioning source, aircraft avionics, and ground infrastructure to create an accurate surveillance interface between aircraft" and air traffic control.
If I can't see them on my ADS-B transponder tracking that means planes in the air commercial which all have transponders and tracking of transponders cannot see them either. If the Blackhawk transponder had been on I am guessing there would have been a loud audible alert to the pilots of the plane hit. It seems that never happened and given the circumstances of how it was said to go down, the Blackhawk may have been tracking visually the wrong plane and missed the one they flew into.
Was the ATC crew not doing their job? Possibly. I don't know what equipment they had in use at the time. Did they get a possible collision alert? Maybe, maybe not if the transponder was off. I have not been in a airport flight tower in a very long time so I don't know what advances have come since I was a teenager. Too what I have seen and heard so far there was a failing with the ATC and the Blackhawk which set the stage for this accident to happen. I am watching ADS-B again fairly regularly. What I am looking for is to see if the actual numbers of flights I can see jumps up down the road. As far as I know now military is allowed the option transponder on or off for security reasons. So they train that way as well and that is why I can see them in the skies with my eyes but not see them on my screen when I check for their transponder presence.
1LoverofGod
Well-known
New Details Emerge About Female Pilot Rebecca Lobach’s Shocking Negligence Before Helicopter-Plane Collision Near DC’s Reagan Airport
New details about the fatal helicopter-plane crash near DC’s Reagan Airport reveal the female pilot was repeatedly ignored warnings from her male co-pilot to turn away but she flew right into the passenger jet.
The third pilot’s name, Rebecca Lobach, was finally released three days after the crash so they could scrub her social media.
Lobach reportedly had 45 hours of flying experience and served as an aide to Joe Biden.
Lobach’s male co-pilot, an Army flight instructor, directly told her to turn away, and she flew straight into a passenger jet.
“Not only was the Black Hawk flying too high, but in the final seconds before the crash, its pilot failed to heed a directive from her co-pilot, an Army flight instructor, to change course,” The Times reported.
“The Black Hawk was 15 seconds away from crossing paths with the jet. Warrant Officer Eaves then turned his attention to Captain Lobach. He told her he believed that air traffic control wanted them to turn left, toward the east river bank,” The New York Times reported.
“Turning left would have opened up more space between the helicopter and Flight 5342, which was heading for Runway 33 at an altitude of roughly 300 feet,” The Times reported.
And the fatal mistake, as reported by The Times, “She did not turn left.”
Complete Article
New Details Emerge About Female Pilot Rebecca Lobach's Shocking Negligence Before Helicopter-Plane Collision Near DC's Reagan Airport | The Gateway Pundit | by Cristina Laila
New details about the fatal helicopter-plane crash near DC's Reagan Airport reveal the female pilot was repeatedly ignored warnings from her male co-pilot to turn away but she flew right into the passenger jet.
www.thegatewaypundit.com
Ghoti Ichthus
Genesis 18:32, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Acts 5:29
The media keeps emphasizing the pilot's gender.
Every female pilot/flight crew officer/member is going to have a harder time.
In some fields/specialties/positions, every time a woman makes a mistake, it's attributed to all the other women in the same/similar positions, as well.
Ditto minorities, but it's far easier to get away with denigrating biological women (XX) than minorities.
It's not as bad as it once was, but it still occurs, and the result is both blatant and subtle discrimination and harassment
Every female pilot/flight crew officer/member is going to have a harder time.
In some fields/specialties/positions, every time a woman makes a mistake, it's attributed to all the other women in the same/similar positions, as well.
Ditto minorities, but it's far easier to get away with denigrating biological women (XX) than minorities.
It's not as bad as it once was, but it still occurs, and the result is both blatant and subtle discrimination and harassment
Cheeky200386
Well-known
Maybe I’m the minority but I would prefer if my pilots were men, not women. Women are capable of some wonderful things but they are not men and can’t do everything to the same capacity as men. I don’t think you are suggesting that by the way, I’m just sharing that sometimes the person’s gender is important to know and is relevant.The media keeps emphasizing the pilot's gender.
Every female pilot/flight crew officer/member is going to have a harder time.
In some fields/specialties/positions, every time a woman makes a mistake, it's attributed to all the other women in the same/similar positions, as well.
Ditto minorities, but it's far easier to get away with denigrating biological women (XX) than minorities.
It's not as bad as it once was, but it still occurs, and the result is both blatant and subtle discrimination and harassment
No offense to you either by the way. I know you were in law enforcement but I really don’t like when I see a woman stepping out of a police vehicle on the side of the road after stopping another car. It looks ridiculous and is not intimidating in the slightest. I just imagine how easily a female officer could compromise other officers by being overpowered by a male criminal. Same with females in the military as infantry or female firefighters. It’s just a problem waiting to happen.
Apparently you have never watched officer Lucy Chen on the TV show “The Rookie”……
