Pilot. ATC. Fear. Abiding faith.

[temporal1]

NBC / “All 3 on board Black Hawk that collided with American Eagle jet identified”
They included a pilot, an aviation officer and a helicopter mechanic, the U.S. Army said.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/3- ... rcna190310

^^The report is NEUTRAL.

^^MANY reports have stated there should have been 4 PILOTS in the Blackhawk. There was 1.
MANY reports stated there were 3 EXPERIENCED pilots on the Blackhawk. There was 1.

i NEVER expect the military to be transparent, esp not quickly, not to the public. maybe not ever.
The U.S. CIC will be informed. i believe that, no matter what the CIC shares with the public.
They know, whether they say or not.

MY OPINION, from knowing human nature:
These 3 had access to the Blackhawk and went out for a joy ride. Beautiful clear night.
Not COMPLETELY unqualified. They “knew enough” to get themselves and others killed.
“A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.”

i’m angry right now. maybe i’ll cool off. maybe i’m wrong.
i know too much about temptation. from my own, and witnessing others. that feeling of immortality.

i expect many lawsuits against the military.

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Sean Duffy takes charge, announces FAA to restrict helicopter traffic around Reagan National
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/02/01 ... l-1520125/

i appreciate ALL the related discussions of problems with ATC, inadequate airports, understaffing, etc.
This particular crash had nothing to do with any of those important topics.

This crash was due to what was going on on that Blackhawk.

i first suspected terrorism, based on reports+videos. i think that possibility can be eliminated.

1 pilot when 4 were required. wow.

If only they could have a do-over and NOT take that ride.

- - - - - - -

Not sure where i saw the CRJ black box has revealed the CRJ pilot got a last minute second alert, TRAFFIC TRAFFIC TRAFFICE,
he tried to pull up, then the impact is heard. They were descending and had right of way. He must have had quick reflexes to even try an ascent.

[temporal1]

^^i’m no longer angry as i was, but sad and distraught. i’m not sure when i felt such anger.
i hope tangible measures are taken to prevent future catastrophes. Restricting helicopters from the airport space is a start.

i’m glad DEI is being scrutinized, it’s not anyone’s net benefit to be “pushed ahead” for PC, esp if it costs lives.
(Not blaming applicants taking advantage of policies, they’re trusting the policy.) It’s a policy failure.

More is needed than good intentions.

i hope there’s a return to factual reporting when it comes to matters of PUBLIC HEALTH+SAFETY, no more manipulating language to hide facts from the public. Not just wrt aviation, of course.

In the military, by definition, there are healthy able young members with access and responsibility of all manner dangerous+powerful equipment. A major challenge is to prevent reckless acts. i wouldn’t want that job!! It’s hard enough to let a teen drive the family car.

i definitely question whether recklessness was involved in this crash??
1 pilot, 1 student, 1 mechanic flying a powerful military helicopter in commercial airspace, when 4 pilots are required to do so.
Eventually a report will be made, not sure if it will be public. Will they use the word “reckless”? Time will tell.

Thankfully, preventive measures are being taken without waiting for the full investigation.

Not sure where i saw the CRJ black box has revealed the CRJ pilot got a last minute second alert, TRAFFIC TRAFFIC TRAFFICE,
he tried to pull up, then the impact is heard. They were descending and had right of way. He must have had quick reflexes to even try an ascent.

This link below isn’t the report i first saw, but, on that matter:

“Data from the deadliest U.S. air accident in a generation show conflicting altitude readings”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/recovery-cre ... 27183.html

.. Investigators also said that about a second before impact, the jet’s flight recorder showed a change in its pitch. But they did not say whether that change in angle meant that pilots were trying to perform an evasive maneuver to avoid the crash. ..

[temporal1]

Feb 7 2025 / AP / 28 agencies were authorized to fly helicopters near Reagan Airport before deadly crash
https://apnews.com/article/black-hawk-c ... 5e7946063e

.. What could explain the 300-foot altitude?
The collision likely occurred at about 325 feet above ground, according to data collected from the passenger jet.
The Black Hawk was supposed to fly no higher than 200 feet above ground — which has raised a lot of questions as to why it may have been above its limits.

Some of that information is provided by a barometric altimeter, which provides the crew altitude information based on air pressure readings. In the older Black Hawks, crews check that the barometric altimeter is working before each flight by manually turning a knob to set the altimeter to the current pressure broadcast by the airfield they are taking off from. If the reading on the altimeter then varies from the airfield reading by more than 70 feet, the helicopter is out of compliance and should not fly, Braman said.

The barometric altimeter is just one of two systems in the cockpit that would give the crew awareness of how high they were flying. The second, the radar altimeter, is based on the helicopter sending a radio frequency signal from an antennae to the ground and would have provided the crew additional real-time information on their height. As investigators go through the cockpit voice recorder data, they’ll be able to determine if the barometric altimeter was set correctly, Braman said.

Most Army helicopters, and particularly the older UH-60L variants, are not equipped with a modern traffic collision avoidance system, known as TCAS — because it’s not as effective at the low altitudes that Army helicopters normally operate in, Braman said.

Even if the Black Hawk had remained at its required altitude, “it would never be permissible for an airplane to be landing above a helicopter at 200 feet,” Braman said, and there should have been additional deconfliction actions taken.

Not permissable, but unlikely they would have crashed. ??

[temporal1]

ALASKA

BERING AIR CESSNA

Feb 6 2025 / Anchorage Daily News / Coast Guard: No survivors in crash of Bering Air plane with 10 aboard on ice near Nome
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/aviatio ... near-nome/

Jan 29 2025 / Military.com / Video Shows Air Force F-35 Fighter Exploding in Fireball at Eielson Base in Alaska
https://www.military.com/daily-news/202 ... ction.html

[temporal1]

My son was in So Cal for a couple of days, i think San Diego area, now in Denver for a couple of days.
i’m looking forward to hearing about things. Hoping for good news.

[temporal1]

NTSBgov / NTSB Media Briefing 5 - Bombardier CRJ700 & Sikorsky UH-60L military helicopter collision near DCA /

Description:
March 11, 2025: NTSB briefs the media on the investigation of the January 29 mid-air collision involving a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 airplane and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

i’m hoping this early report will prompt airports everywhere to review their known problem areas.

NTSB has 2 urgent safety (require immediate action) recommendations as investigations continue.
(to separate/distance helicopters from planes.)

(i wish) this busy+small commercial airport could be relocated away from the helicopter traffic.

NTSB.gov
https://www.ntsb.gov/Pages/home.aspx

[temporal1]

Lengthy. i watch in parts, Time Stamps help!
Nerve-wracking but so interesting.

4 amazing aviation outcomes:

Mentour Pilot / The BEST Pilot Decisions EVER Made in an Emergency?! / / 2:19:14

Description:
In this Mentour supercut, we celebrate superhero pilots, whose actions saved lives and made aviation safer for generations to come.

These pilots showed excellence in short-term decision making, planning and superb knowledge of their aircraft.
BUT you don't have to fly aircraft to apply the lessons their stories teach us to your own career or everyday life.

0:00 When Pilots SAVE the Day!
1:46: The Miracle on the Hudson
37:57 The Original Miracle on the Hudson
01:05:48 Captain Sucked Out Mid-Flight
01:31:58 Engine Damage Over Honolulu

Mentour Pilot website [Petter, Sweden]
https://mentourpilot.com/

[temporal1]

i’ve never flown Spirit Airlines.

ABL / Anthony Brian Logan / “Spirit Airlines Introduces A DRESS CODE... Finally!” / -10min



Spirit Airlines / Instagram spoof [*warning: colorful language*]
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGRLhAOzHbL/

Found in Comments:
(They never crash) - - “The 93 Honda Civic of airplanes” .. “this is hilarious”

“Spirit Airlines… the Waffle House of the skies”

“Those planes still got ash trays.”

“They don’t do safety precautions” ..
He’s funny. i wish he’d leave out bad language. so unnecessary.

- - - - - - -

In real life ..
i usually sit next to a guy like this video below. they’re so disappointed to sit next to me. sorry, pal. i feel your pain.
i feel so sorry for them. but! i have a son! so, i know exactly what to do.
i sit perfectly still, in my own space, looking out the window, never at them, not a peep. like i don’t exist,

so interesting.
by the end of the trip, they’re animated, talking, telling me about their work, school, helping with my luggage.
smiling, like everything is ok. i’m really glad i have a son. he’s taught me everything.

instagram / young men on flights
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGnqTlOp8UT/

[temporal1]

One day, my little historian grdaughter decided to tell me about how the first WWI pilots fought each other with hand guns and rifles in the cockpits. What!! She could see my disbelief.

She assured me that’s what they did. What imagery.

i looked it up.

Smithsonian / Luck and Death: WWI Pilots and their Superstitions
Cheating the Grim Reaper at the dawn of aerial combat.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-spac ... 180950158/

Combat pilots during World War I confronted death on a daily basis. At the start of the conflict, pilots took potshots at each other with pistols or shotguns, or even threw things at the enemy from open cockpits. By war’s end, the machines and tactics had evolved enough that airplanes became efficient killing machines. .. text continues ..

In 1918 France, the 13th Aero Squadron painted a skeleton on the side of their SPAD, a stark reminder of their own mortality.

[temporal1]

1982 / An aviation account of volcanic ash.
Nerves of steel

Mentour Pilot / British Airways 009 | The Full Story Of The Jakarta Incident / 40+min

Description:
A Boeing 747-200 is cruising along at 37000 feet over the eastern Indian ocean when its suddenly engulfed in a huge ball of light. Seconds later the engines start failing, one after the other and the pilots have to desperately try to re-light them to avoid a ditching in the sea in complete darkness.

This is the increadible story of British Airways flight 009 and for this video I have invited captain Eric Moody himself (!!) to explain some details from the flight. Only here on the Mentour Pilot channel.

21:00 mark - Chapter 16 “A legendary passenger address”

- - - - - - -

He mentions the 2010 Iceland eruptions: They knew more by 2010

“Air travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_trave ... l_eruption