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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Now’s probably the safest time - everyone will be on alert. [/quote]

+1  Plus they've pointed out DCA has been understaffed with Air Traffic Controllers and hopefully they'll fix that.   That is, if Elon Musk/DOGE doesn't fire them all and replace them with high school students.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/29/us/plane-crash-washington-dc
Staffing was ‘not normal’ at airport tower, according to a preliminary F.A.A. report.
Staffing at the air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan National Airport was “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” according to an internal preliminary Federal Aviation Administration safety report about the collision that was reviewed by The New York Times.

The controller who was handling helicopters in the airport’s vicinity Wednesday night was also instructing planes that were landing and departing from its runways. Those jobs typically are assigned to two controllers, rather than one.

This increases the workload for the air traffic controller and can complicate the job. One reason is that the controllers can use different radio frequencies to communicate with pilots flying planes and pilots flying helicopters. While the controller is communicating with pilots of the helicopter and the jet, the two sets of pilots may not be able to hear each other.[/quote]

This is true, but please don't let it impugn the actions of this controller. From everything publicly available so far, it appears he did everything right. Even after the crash happened, he was on the radio within seconds in a controlled voice, directing the incoming flights away from the airport. A model of professionalism under pressure [/quote]

I posted that link to point out that one air traffic controller was doing the job of two thanks to federal budget constraints.  Even if there was a flaw in their actions, it would be hard to blame the person doing the job of two people through no fault of their own.  But if people voted for this DOGE Trump chaos, they are going to be at risk when they use essential public services.  [/quote]

Thank you, all good points.[/quote]

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