See posts above if you really want to know why it matters to know the VIP. |
Do you know her? No. So you do not really know. Just hot air. |
NVGs have been used for decades without this ever happening before now. Helicopters and planes don’t crash into each other weekly, monthly, daily. Stop making up excuses. ATC has been using the same commands and language for decade, as have pilots - this wasn’t invented yesterday. The issue lies with the three in that helicopter. Full stop. The combination of those three individuals is the variable. That plane route was regular and common and the runways were not new. Were they paying attention? Were they jacking around? ATC was directing dozens of planes all night without issue. Helicopter behavior on the night in question is the issue here. |
Pilots don’t “jack around” or stop paying attention. You sound like you went to the Hollywood flight school. |
The point is, the 3 onboard did not CHOOSE to get that VIP. they are being vilified. |
Sure, Jan! Do you not realize that 99% of people half-ass nearly every duty they have? From jobs to parenthood to life. You can expect someone to have a serious job and act maturely but do they actually? |
There have been so many accidents resulting in death in the military. We do not berate the dead for mistakes that happen, particularly those that happen in high-risk jobs. |
"The three?" You don't even know what the actual duties and responsibilities of "the three" are. So until you actually educate yourself, stop talking. "Full stop." |
Not for something like this. This was an accident. Yes, one in which one of the parties is more likely at fault, but it wasn't intentional. |
DP, but they do this all the time. It's not like one VIP got special treatment. Lots of VIPs get ferried around daily. And they in part use it as exercises for in case of an emergency, flying people out. People have been saying that all of it should be rerouted. It was a disaster in the making regardless of why the BH was flying. |
Stop with the VIP. It really doesn’t matter. The flight that caused the crash was a part of annual training they were required to do annually. The VIP transport prior is irrelevant. Being evaluated on that particular route at night was a required sign off- if not that particular night, another night. Those are Black Hawk pilots that are supposed to be able to fly in battle- with enemy aircraft around and while attempts are being made to shoot them down. No air traffic control telling them where other aircraft is and where they need to go. The fact that several HUGE errors were made in such controlled conditions with explicit instructions is troubling. |
One thing we all know is one of the duties was obviously not to crash. |
That was solely within the power of ONE of them, not all three. |
I just don't understand the vilification of the soldiers. They seem properly qualified and don't appear to have any major red flags (yet.)
If helicopters "regularly" deviate from Rt. 4 and "everyone" knows this, than this sounds like a giant accident just waiting to happen, in which case the fault would lie with the FAA or whomever approves and supervises the Helo routes around DCA. |
There has been such a tight lid on the VIP leg of this flight.
There is NO WAY the "VIP" request isn't something that is bad optics. Where are the journaliats who used to lurk around here? |