U.S. Politics

[Richard Smith]

What good policies?

Closed borders, deporting illegal alien criminals, making NATO countries pay their fair share, ending crazy DEI policies, making efforts to end the war in Ukraine, opening up the energy resources of the US to lower prices, getting tough on those countries like China and Canada that rip off the US with tariffs, going after the Mexican cartels that have killed hundreds of thousands of Americans with fentanyl, restoring common sense etc.

[Charles Collins]

Some missteps in the last few days from the Trump administration.  The federal program freeze that was sloppy, blaming the airline crash on DEI when it was clearly the fault of the military to fly helicopters into the landing path of a major airport, and the false story about saving $50 million in condoms to Gaza.  I support most of Trump's agenda but overreaching and sloppiness can undermine good policies.

If you have seen the program shown on Smithsonian Channel “Air Disasters” you will probably have noticed that most accidents are due to multiple items happening at the same time. I think there will be plenty of blame to go around when the investigation is complete. I have read that the helicopter pilot was wearing a night vision device. I would guess that device might limit his peripheral vision and could have possibly temporarily blinded him if he did happen to turn his head at the last moment to look towards the plane’s landing lights. Plus there are collision avoidance devices incorporated into the aircraft and the air traffic controller’s radar system. What happened to those devices? Why didn’t they help avoid the collision as they were designed to do.

[Richard Smith]

If you have seen the program shown on Smithsonian Channel “Air Disasters” you will probably have noticed that most accidents are due to multiple items happening at the same time. I think there will be plenty of blame to go around when the investigation is complete. I have read that the helicopter pilot was wearing a night vision device. I would guess that device might limit his peripheral vision and could have possibly temporarily blinded him if he did happen to turn his head at the last moment to look towards the plane’s landing lights. Plus there are collision avoidance devices incorporated into the aircraft and the air traffic controller’s radar system. What happened to those devices? Why didn’t they help avoid the collision as they were designed to do.

Yes, there are probably several factors involved but there should never be military helicopters flying at night (or anytime) directly across the flight path of a major airport where planes are taking off and landing every minute.  There apparently had been near misses in the recent weeks involving helicopters.  I find it hard to believe they allowed this to happen.  The risk should have been apparent to a small child.  This accident wasn't a matter of if but when under those circumstances.   The military commanders that authorized these training flights should be held accountable. 

[Charles Collins]

Yes, there are probably several factors involved but there should never be military helicopters flying at night (or anytime) directly across the flight path of a major airport where planes are taking off and landing every minute.  There apparently had been near misses in the recent weeks involving helicopters.  I find it hard to believe they allowed this to happen.  The risk should have been apparent to a small child.  This accident wasn't a matter of if but when under those circumstances.   The military commanders that authorized these training flights should be held accountable.

I agree that this seems to be a very dangerous activity for them to allow. I have also read that the helicopter was flying at a wrong altitude. But, like the JFK assassination early reports, these early reports are subject to not being correct. Regardless, it is difficult to accept that this accident could have happened in the first place. The investigations typically get to the root of the causes and result in changes that are designed to make sure that it never happens again. Prayers for all those affected and their families and friends.

[Royell Storing]

     Most of the "issues" trace back to the Army Black Hawk Copter: (1) Only 3 people were manning the copter. (Minimum 4 people mandated to fly the copter. (2 Piloting + 2 Viewing the (R) & (L) sides of the copter), (2) Copter was flying at roughly 400 ft, (Max permissible = 200 ft), (3) Copter deviated from flight path.
  Regarding the Control Tower, it was: (1) Undermanned by roughly 30%. and, (2) Air Traffic Controller communicative skills were abysmal. Roughly 30 seconds prior to the midair collision, the Black Hawk Copter was instructed by the Air Traffic Controller to, "pass behind the plane". How if the copter is headed in a Southerly direction does it "pass behind" a plane headed in a Northerly direction?   

[Richard Smith]

     Most of the "issues" trace back to the Army Black Hawk Copter: (1) Only 3 people were manning the copter. (Minimum 4 people mandated to fly the copter. (2 Piloting + 2 Viewing the (R) & (L) sides of the copter), (2) Copter was flying at roughly 400 ft, (Max permissible = 200 ft), (3) Copter deviated from flight path.
  Regarding the Control Tower, it was: (1) Undermanned by roughly 30%. and, (2) Air Traffic Controller communicative skills were abysmal. Roughly 30 seconds prior to the midair collision, the Black Hawk Copter was instructed by the Air Traffic Controller to, "pass behind the plane". How if the copter is headed in a Southerly direction does it "pass behind" a plane headed in a Northerly direction?

All valid concerns but the most important problem is why these helicopters were allowed to cross the approach into a major airport.  That is simply gross negligence on behalf of the military.  It's all gross negligence on behalf of the FAA for allowing this and not taking action EVEN after there had been recent incidents when incoming planes had to abort landings to avoid these helicopters.  It's inexplicable.  Like the secret service not safeguarding that building in Butler and allowing a shooter to have a line of sight to Trump.  That level of incompetence is astounding.

[Charles Collins]

All valid concerns but the most important problem is why these helicopters were allowed to cross the approach into a major airport.  That is simply gross negligence on behalf of the military.  It's all gross negligence on behalf of the FAA for allowing this and not taking action EVEN after there had been recent incidents when incoming planes had to abort landings to avoid these helicopters.  It's inexplicable.  Like the secret service not safeguarding that building in Butler and allowing a shooter to have a line of sight to Trump.  That level of incompetence is astounding.

I have read that under normal circumstances two different controllers (and two different radio frequencies) were used. One to control helicopters and another to control airplanes. This seems to me to make things even more dangerous because the helicopters would not be able to hear what is happening with the plane traffic and vice versa. Therefore I think the resulting ignorance should be considered a prime factor in this accident.

[Royell Storing]

All valid concerns but the most important problem is why these helicopters were allowed to cross the approach into a major airport.  That is simply gross negligence on behalf of the military.  It's all gross negligence on behalf of the FAA for allowing this and not taking action EVEN after there had been recent incidents when incoming planes had to abort landings to avoid these helicopters.  It's inexplicable.  Like the secret service not safeguarding that building in Butler and allowing a shooter to have a line of sight to Trump.  That level of incompetence is astounding.

   You get a look at the course the Black Hawk Copter took as it traveled (S) down the river, and it Zig-Zags. I understand maybe they're training/doing maneuvers, etc, but coupled with it flying at roughly 400 feet, (double max permissible elevation), and then it veering over close to the landing strips, makes me wonder what was going on inside the copter. And then there's the ongoing secrecy surrounding the ID of the 3rd member of the copter crew. All of this combined smells.