"Radio communications, the tried-and-true means of interaction between controllers and pilots, also broke down. Some of the controller’s instructions were 'stepped on' — meaning that they cut out when the helicopter crew pressed a microphone to speak — and important information likely went unheard.
"Technology on the Black Hawk that would have allowed controllers to better track the helicopter was turned off. Doing so was Army protocol, meant to allow the pilots to practice secretly whisking away a senior government official in an emergency. But at least some experts believe that turning off the system deprived everyone involved of another safeguard..."
“Doing so was Army protocol, meant to allow the pilots to practice secretly whisking away a senior government official in an emergency. But at least some experts believe that turning off the system deprived everyone involved of another safeguard...”
A military practice exercise should never be conducted in a way that puts the general public at risk. If the military must practice whisking away VIP’s in the approach to a high traffic commercial airport, the airport should be shut down to incoming and outgoing traffic during the exercise.
The purpose of the military is to protect the civilian population, not to engage in training exercises in locations resulting in the death of 64 civilians. Secretary of Defense Hegseth, and the senior military staff should conduct a full review of all training exercises potentially endangering the general public and make appropriate changes to eliminate risk to the public.
If night training flights down the Potomac are truly essential to national security and military preparedness, Reagan National Airport can be shut down during the period the training flights are in the vicinity of the airport. The same with any other commercial airport whose routine airspace needs to be infringed on by military operations from time to time. Doesn’t Palm Beach International Airport shut down to other traffic when President Trump’s plane is landing or taking off at Mar a Lago.?
If we are truly a nation where the central premise of government is all citizens are created equal, preparations for whisking away senior government officials do not justify the death of 64 American citizens. Our founding fathers would be appalled we have developed an elite aristocracy ruling us whose lives are perceived as more important than the average person going about his or her daily business.
IP should have taken control of the helo when she did not follow instructions!
It may be difficult for a junior WO aviator IP to take the controls FRom a Captain, but (and I have several thousand hours as an IP), safety of flight overrules all other considerations!
How we ALL wish the WO IP had taken control!