Posted on 01/30/2025 7:09:10 PM PST by rdl6989
For at least two decades, pilots have complained about near misses with helicopters and other aircraft in the congested airspace above Reagan National Airport, according to an NBC 5 Investigates review of complaints lodged with NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System.
The complaints are not necessarily investigated or corroborated by the federal aviation authorities but do underscore concerns raised by the pilots themselves about airspace congestion at one of the nation's busiest commercial runways in DCA.
NBC 5 Investigates found at least 16 complaints in NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System dating back to 2006 where pilots referenced near misses with helicopters or other aircraft while approaching Reagan National. The figures could be an undercount given that pilots submit their experiences to the NASA dataset voluntarily. Their identities were removed.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcchicago.com ...
Like a Swiss Watch.
This is what I guessed might come out.
A dangerous mix of air traffic that has just been tolerated and shouldn’t have been .
Guessing pilots will have many stories.
One thing about plane crashes is they really follow the ‘comes in packs and waves’. None for a long time, then 3 or so in a row.
This has still been an incredible streak to the point I’d even feel safe now and I used to be extremely phobic of it.
More evidence in the quest to solve the actual issues.
For as long as I can remember, DCA has been considered within aviation circles to be one of the most dangerous airports in America. It really should be closed, and its traffic moved to Dulles. With all of the unique low-level air traffic in that area, the prohibited airspace all around it, and the importance of some of the VIPs flying around, it’s a terrible location for a busy commercial airport. If not for the demands of the narcissistic Congresscritters, it would have been shut down long ago.
Air traffic control has been on a razor’s edge for many years and that was with merit based hiring. Now the situation has become dire due to democrats destroying air safety. With lower standards we can expect more accidents, more tragedies.
If DCA flights can’t land or take off between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am because of noise, why weren’t helicopters training during those hours.
You are so right. I said that exact thing (about having commercial flights go to Dulles instead,) to my husband a few hours ago. What is the big deal. So it takes a 30 minute drive into D.C.. Not unlike Newark Liberty orJFK into NYC.
Because the helicopters make more noise than the jets. I live in DC. The noise doesn’t bother me, but it’s a fact.
Your answer is in your question.
I hear this is a pretty busy airport.
The military helicopter that collided with an American Airlines regional jet on Wednesday night appears to have been flying too high and outside its approved flight path at the time of the crash, according to four people briefed on the matter but not authorized to speak publicly.
The Army Black Hawk helicopter was supposed to be flying in a different location and lower to the ground as it traversed the busy Reagan National airspace, the people said.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/us/army-helicopter-dc-plane-crash.html?smid=tw-share
Half a mile off course and at the wrong altitude. Why?
“For as long as I can remember, DCA has been considered within aviation circles to be one of the most dangerous airports in America. It really should be closed, and its traffic moved to Dulles. With all of the unique low-level air traffic in that area, the prohibited airspace all around it, and the importance of some of the VIPs flying around, it’s a terrible location for a busy commercial airport. If not for the demands of the narcissistic Congresscritters, it would have been shut down long ago.”
I had a friend who was the regional manager of the FAA in Arizona. I asked him about DCA and the hazards there. He told me that if the FAA had a say in whether the airport should stay open, they would close it down immediately. He pointed out exactly what you stated 30+ years ago.
Or Baltimore.
I went to BWI once......Once!
Really good video and commentary on the collision:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfgllf1L9_4
Has the radio transmissions of both aircraft.
I just realized I made a typo on the date. It should be January 30.
Wow commie media 20 yrs let me guess also trumps fault right…this was bound to happen during Biden’s 4 yrs in office there were 1000 near misses and people are shocked this time a tragedy happened heck I’m shocked it took this long this was a tragedy waiting to happen
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