[Freedom4US]

The problem - they had already trained in those safer areas. At some point the training wheels come off. She was on a check ride evaluation. Flying into Reagan at night under night vision goggles was going to be her job. That’s what that particular VIP aviation unit does, that’s their reason for existence.

They should have had 4 members of the crew, another crew chief on the left side. That might have saved a lot of lives.

The PIC normally sits in the left seat. NVGs are like watching fuzzy black and white TV through paper towel tubes. Depth perception is nil. On moonless nights virtually nothing can be seen. In a city area like an Airport, it is extremely confusing. The IP screwed up not keeping a handle on everything. Very very sad.

[Svartalfiar]

The problem - they had already trained in those safer areas. At some point the training wheels come off. She was on a check ride evaluation. Flying into Reagan at night under night vision goggles was going to be her job. That’s what that particular VIP aviation unit does, that’s their reason for existence.

Why does she need nvgs to fly in that area? Does every other regular flight use nvgs? If this was a check ride, why would the instructor/evaluator also be wearing nvgs? Shouldn't he have been able to identify the plane's lights' colors and take over the flight appropriately? What do nvgs have to do with them flying so far above their designated ceiling?