Article

2025-02-21 -Land of the Free

Army Was Sending Junior Pilots to Fly Top D.C. Missions Until 2023

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Posted by Skidmark 2025-02-21 01:56|| || Front Page|| [11136 views ] Top

#1 I have been told that pilots with senority have been opting to stay away from DC, because "they treat us like bellhops".

Posted by ed in texas 2025-02-21 07:30|| 2025-02-21 07:30|| Front Page Top

#2 Bellhop - Escort officers. Legend has it, during the Johnson era, the White House would call up to Quantico for an officer escort for one of Lydon's semi-beautiful daughters in attending a hosted event. Those Marine uniforms are indeed nifty. The duty officer dispatched an escort to the White House. Just because the officer happened to be black, probably wasn't why the duty officer never pulled that task again.

Posted by Procopius2k 2025-02-21 07:53|| 2025-02-21 07:53|| Front Page Top

#3 The conflict between commercial aviation and military "emergency" operations & training missions in downtown DC was the proximate cause of the recent DCA collision, IMNSHO.
OTOH, an actual continuity-of-government crisis necessitating rapid evacuation of the elite from DC could well result in drastic shrinkage of the governing class.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2025-02-21 10:41|| 2025-02-21 10:41|| Front Page Top

#4 I understand she also spent some time off doing Brandon White House things.

Do we have here a DEI political officer out getting some street cred to justify a promotion?

Posted by swksvolFF 2025-02-21 11:21|| 2025-02-21 11:21|| Front Page Top

#5 All of this is assuming the Army is at fault. Rules of a control zone, especially one like DC, are directed and the responsibility of the tower, approach control in particular. To say the hawk was 100' off and this caused the crash is silly. They have a ATC required spacing distance, one is in separation, I believe its 500' at the DC airport, I could be wrong, it might be more. Then you NEVER allow an aircraft on approach fly over another aircraft while on short final. And,"Hay get eyes on the aircraft on approach, is not a correct answer. The hawk was to be at 200' plus or minus 100', The radar and aircraft put it between 200 and 400'. possibly 100' out of its flight envelope. The jet needed to be at 800' plus or minus 100'. All of which should have made it ok, even with the ATC failure to properly space. Then they said the hawk was not on the correct flight lane, the deviation described, if true, put the aircraft on the other side of the river, further away from the airport, thus increasing the required altitude of the jet liner.
The PIC, Pilot in command, had enough hours to be where he was. The Captain was a low time pilot, but she was flying with an instructor pilot. There was nothing wrong with that mix, its how its done. Lastly, pilots ALL have extra duties. Hers was as liaison in DC. So what.
This is a major airline slandering a military crew to sway opinion before the NTSB get done in an effort to divert liability, or to only have to accept partial liability. They are being very good at picking things like hours, female, etc... in an effort, hoping, that this will be contributing factors in the crash. Again, to try to limit liability. I can only imagine how hard the airline is pressuring the NTSB leaders and congress, let alone the money they are spending in new articles like this...

Posted by 49 Pan 2025-02-21 15:46|| 2025-02-21 15:46|| Front Page Top

#6 Still nothing about the tower person (responsible for "separation"), hours on the job that day, other duties, comments, etc. Pan makes some very good points.

Posted by Besoeker 2025-02-21 15:52|| 2025-02-21 15:52|| Front Page Top

#7 We know that at the busiest airport in America, the tower controller was covering two chairs because the other guy was sent home early — that was one of the first things reported.

she batted for the other team - had a "partner"

“partner” could also mean a live-in boyfriend instead of a husband. Was there ever a name or a photo to inform the reading?

Posted by trailing wife 2025-02-21 15:59|| 2025-02-21 15:59|| Front Page Top

#8 yes, there was

Posted by Frank G 2025-02-21 17:02|| 2025-02-21 17:02|| Front Page Top

#9 Then I yield me to your superior knowledge, Frank G. :-)

Posted by trailing wife 2025-02-21 17:05|| 2025-02-21 17:05|| Front Page Top

#10 Seems like there was fuckery about in the tower as well.

Within minutes tower footage being sold to networks is a strong indicator of that.

Posted by swksvolFF 2025-02-21 18:07|| 2025-02-21 18:07|| Front Page Top

#11 @ TW #9 - It "probably" has no bearing on the incident, but she seems otherwise occupied in other capacities/DEI slot/Biden Social circle. Hence, the "Social Media clearance period" prior to ever releasing her identity

Posted by Frank G 2025-02-21 18:26|| 2025-02-21 18:26|| Front Page Top

22:58 DarthVader
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