My wild ass guess is that the Blackhawk didn't have his transponder on.

You cannot fly in contrail space without a code!

And crossing an active runway approach at low altitude without a code??

I have sat in a restaurant across the river from the airport. Last May while eating dinner there, we were shocked at the number of helicopters flying up and down the river .

Someone was in the wrong place at the wrong time . Human error or equipment malfunction? Time will tell.

Very sad event .

There is an expert being interviewed on the news. He says that there is an anti-collision system that automatically disengages below 1,000 feet . He recons that this contributed to the issue .

The collision occurred at 400 feet!!

The helicopter pilot was instructed to pass behind the liner.

It appears this was due to the helicopters fault!

Shame so many people lost their lives!

Just an awful thing to happen.

An airport should not operate like a damned beehive.

Horrible tragedy that begs many questions. The biggest in my mind is why would ANY aircraft be allowed to fly ACROSS the final approach path to a runway, so close to the runway. This seems to be such a ridiculous practice I can’t believe it’s allowed anywhere.

Terrible accident that seems like it was very preventable. Human error on multiple levels.

quote:

Originally posted by DLS:
Horrible tragedy that begs many questions. The biggest in my mind is why would ANY aircraft be allowed to fly ACROSS the final approach path to a runway, so close to the runway. This seems to be such a ridiculous practice I can’t believe it’s allowed anywhere.

Terrible accident that seems like it was very preventable. Human error on multiple levels.

Nothing wrong with this at all.

We used to fly across Dubai's active runways in police helicopters every day.

Because we were stationed at that airport.

This happened because of total incompetence!

News is reporting that one air traffic controller was covering two positions.

Dammit, Diversity is our Strength! Of course, we've traded what worked for what sounded appealing...

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
News is reporting that one air traffic controller was covering two positions.

And with that, he was speaking to the military helicopter on a UHF frequency and the civilian jet on a VHF frequency. Neither aircraft was able to hear the controllers calls to the other.

The media almost always gets the facts wrong with anything to do with aviation but there was a report the helicopter pilots were on NVGs, which severely restrict depth perception and field of view. That one item alone, if confirmed, should be a must change policy in similar congested flight environments going forward.

Tragic loss of life.

You a white, straight, male.

We can’t employ you!!

To add more fuel to the fire:

Supposedly the helicopter was being flown by a female trainee pilot, (the Army is not releasing her name at the request of the next of kin).

The helicopter was flying 100 feet above the maximum height for that area.

My question is: What was the instructor pilot doing?

Forgot to add the link

DEI in action!

The dumbocrats DEI bullshit caused this. Any word from the posters with terminal TDS? I am an independent voter, but the current administration will fix this (but not overnight).

As a retired US Army Lt Colonel, my judgment
is that NO US military helicopter needs to be flying anywhere near controlled airspace of any airport. There are safer flight patterns for any aviation training missions.

Speaking from Pentagon HQDA experience, that is probably now in effect. LENF/MEDFLT only exceptions. SECDEF Austen was AWOL before, and is/was an embarrassment reflecting the past administration. Very sad event that was avoidable.

quote:

Originally posted by 450 Fuller:
As a retired US Army Lt Colonel, my judgment
is that NO US military helicopter needs to be flying anywhere near controlled airspace of any airport. There are safer flight patterns for any aviation training missions.

Speaking from Pentagon HQDA experience, that is probably now in effect. LENF/MEDFLT only exceptions. SECDEF Austen was AWOL before, and is/was an embarrassment reflecting the past administration. Very sad event that was avoidable.

Pretty sure this is the unit that flies all the VIPs all around the DC area. Not a routine mission.

This is their AO. Makes sense they were training for their assigned mission.


Sad all around.

I had an email from a local resident near there this morning.

He claimed this copter was part of Trump's copter transport group.

Any of you hear of this before?

Inman said on NBC!! Sat night "the plane was at 300ft give or take 25feet, the copter was at 300feet and should not have been higher than 200. The plane was supposed to be limited to 400-500feet and should not have been lower than 400."

Have these figures changed?
Since Inman IS the man in charge he should know.

George