Anonymous wrote:This is horrible, and I feel so badly for the families and loved ones.

Real question -- is DCA simply unsafe to fly in and out of? Too much traffic over the Potomac to be safe? Was this inevitable? I just checked the upcoming flights I have and they are out of Dulles and I'm tempted to not fly out of DCA again, even though I usually have.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s zero reason for so many helicopters in DC, let alone “training flights.” They fly too low over residential areas and seem to just be doing it as a lark. They should train elsewhere.

Not so sure about the so called training.
I thought they delivered VIPs to CIA, no?

Yes, they dropped the VIP(s?) off at Langley and then a less experienced pilot took the controls for "training hours" for the flight back. They are very much trying to hide that the reason the helicopter was there at all was because some faux-VIP wanted to skip traffic.

If you know this, report it anonymously to the NTSB

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was such a sad and horrific event.

To bad people on here are taking advantage of the situation to gripe some more and continue their hateful diatribe. Sadly, you will feel no shame. Let’s let this be about those lost and those working at the site for at least 24 hours.

Don’t assume those are real posters. The internet and this board are full of trolls who do nothing but try to upset people. You have no idea who they really are and what they believe. They are here to stoke division. That’s all.

Anonymous wrote:➡️ January 20: FAA director fired
➡️ January 21: Air Traffic Controller hiring frozen
➡️ January 22: Aviation Safety Advisory Committee disbanded
➡️ January 28: Buyout/retirement demand sent to existing employees
➡️ January 29: First American mid-air collision in 16 years

Making America Great Again!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want everyone also to say a prayer and hold in their hearts all the law enforcement and fire rescue/recovery divers that jumped into dark freezing water last night and swam through jet fuel and dangerous debris, only to be met with a plan full of dead teenagers. They should have the thanks, prayers, and support of all of us. I cannot imagine anything more scary and horrific. I hope they are all getting excellent mental health support.

Heroes. All of them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know whether helicopters crossing are supposed to wait for an affirmative okay to cross from the ATC, or whether they can cross unless told NOT to cross by ATC?

This does seem like a crazy intersection to me.

There’s a blackhawk pilot on ABC News - the helicopter was likely not flying low enough given planes descending onto the runway.

Wtf does this mean?? Planes don’t land in the air. They are dropping altitude to zero. Is that low enough for you??

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Europe the ATC will call out specifically where there may be something impeding an approach by a plane - so it's not a visual approach by the pilot(s). In other words, they aren't going to leave it in human hands. It's a lot of risk because people do make mistakes. Many European pilots will not accept visual approaches when they come into US. Our processes are much looser than many other countries and some foreign pilots scoff at them. This is an example.

Well, those are still human hands.
But their system does sound safer/more precise.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s zero reason for so many helicopters in DC, let alone “training flights.” They fly too low over residential areas and seem to just be doing it as a lark. They should train elsewhere.

Not so sure about the so called training.
I thought they delivered VIPs to CIA, no?

Yes, they dropped the VIP(s?) off at Langley and then a less experienced pilot took the controls for "training hours" for the flight back. They are very much trying to hide that the reason the helicopter was there at all was because some faux-VIP wanted to skip traffic.

Anonymous wrote:In Europe the ATC will call out specifically where there may be something impeding an approach by a plane - so it's not a visual approach by the pilot(s). In other words, they aren't going to leave it in human hands. It's a lot of risk because people do make mistakes. Many European pilots will not accept visual approaches when they come into US. Our processes are much looser than many other countries and some foreign pilots scoff at them. This is an example.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The contributing factors to this crash will never be fully addressed. The fundamental problem is the orientation of Runway 33 vis-a-vis military traffic on the east side of the Potomac. It’s past time that Runway 33 is closed. If that means DCA has to shed a few slots so be it. Plenty of capacity at IAD.

That was also the opinion of a guest (aviation expert?) on nbc4 this morning. Planes have to swing out to the east side of the river to land on that runway, which brings them into the same space as the helicopters that fly low and the helicopters have to maintain visual distance. Too much can go wrong.

I know nothing about airplanes. But I cannot understand how in 2025, planes aren’t equipped with technology that gives them exact location and screen visualization of other close airplanes in the air. I can understand how the naked eye could miss a nearby plane when traveling from above or below, plus night, and fast moving. But surely helicopters and commercial planes have better onboard technology than purely relying on the pilot looking out the window.

There is technology to let other aircraft and tower know where you are, but it is possible that the helicopter turned it off.