Plane collides with Blackhawk helicopter Washington DC

[Zaphod58]

I heard something about the plane being switched to another runway...but no link.  Seems odd?

Couldn't the collusion be anticipated on radar?

Changing runways is fairly common. They plan for a runway, but sometimes there's too much traffic, or someone doesn't clear soon enough so they change them to a different runway.

There was a collision alert but that airspace is usually pretty busy so it may not have been seen in time.

[EXETER]

I heard something about the plane being switched to another runway...but no link.  Seems odd?

Couldn't the collusion be anticipated on radar?

Normally, it could, but supposedly the helo didn't have its radar transponder turned on.  That means that the helo pilot would have been on Visual Flight Rules (VFR).  VFR requires all pilots to see and avoid other air traffic.

If you look at the traffic pattern for DCA airport, the landing approach to runway 33 requires the aircraft to stay over the Maryland side of the Potomac River until making a left turn to short final that crosses directly over the Potomac River. Helicopters transiting in that region are supposed to fly along Helicopter route 4, which is basically along the centerline of the Potomac River.  About a quarter of a mile off the approach end of runway 33, the helicopter route passes directly under the extended centerline of the runway.  That means that if the helicopter is too high and/or the landing aircraft is too low and they happen to be at the same point over the Potomac at the same time, there could be a collision. 

The helo was stationed at Fort Belvoir, which is downstream on the Potomac from DCA airport.  I don't know if it was flying to or from Fort Belvoir, but if it was flying upstream, the jet would have been approaching from over the shoulder of the helo and probably would not have been visible by the helo pilot.

[Zaphod58]

Normally, it could, but supposedly the helo didn't have its radar transponder turned on.  That means that the helo pilot would have been on Visual Flight Rules (VFR).  VFR requires all pilots to see and avoid other air traffic.

If you look at the traffic pattern for DCA airport, the landing approach to runway 33 requires the aircraft to stay over the Maryland side of the Potomac River until making a left turn to short final that crosses directly over the Potomac River. Helicopters transiting in that region are supposed to fly along Helicopter route 4, which is basically along the centerline of the Potomac River.  About a quarter of a mile off the approach end of runway 33, the helicopter route passes directly under the extended centerline of the runway.  That means that if the helicopter is too high and/or the landing aircraft is too low and they happen to be at the same point over the Potomac at the same time, there could be a collision. 

The helo was stationed at Fort Belvoir, which is downstream on the Potomac from DCA airport.  I don't know if it was flying to or from Fort Belvoir, but if it was flying upstream, the jet would have been approaching from over the shoulder of the helo and probably would not have been visible by the helo pilot.

Their transponder was on. There’s a lot of bad reporting going on because they didn’t have ADS-B Out broadcasting, or may not had been equipped with an ADS-B transponder. They were still broadcasting other modes.

VFR still broadcasts a transponder signal, using 1200 as their code.

[Zaphod58]

There were three aircraft in the area, besides PAT25. The controller asked if they had the CRJ in sight, and they reported they did. They were instructed to keep visual separation. It’s very possible that they misidentified one of the other aircraft as the PSA flight, and never saw the flight before the collision.

[pianopraze]

Hmmm…

video: Twitter link

Lockheed Martin demonstrated this remote Blackhawk technology...IN WASHINGTON DC...Mere months ago. 2 weeks before the 2024 election.

[putnam6]

Hmmm…

video: Twitter link

It is an interesting as hell coincidence but NO evidence right now It is anything but a coincidence 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/



Of course who trusts the FAA after weeks of gaslighting over the drone situation, again likely nothing

BUT AN INTERESTING DATA POINT nonetheless

NJ drones 'were authorized to be flown by FAA for research,' Donald Trump saysAPP.com (Asbury Park, NJ) on MSN.com|1 day ago
Donald Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the drones were for research purposes and 'not the enemy.'

[quintessentone]

So sad and tragic as there were juvenile figure skating athletes, their coaches and family on that passenger plane and I would imagine there were young people being trained on the military craft. There needs to be a thorough investigation.

As more information is relayed on the news, it was mentioned that this airport and surrounding skies are extremely busy. Now with that knowledge does it not bring up the question as to how this accident could have happened knowing it is one of the busiest, therefore one would assume the proper safety measures are in place?

The military aircraft was supposedly on a training mission with three trainees, could the pilot's attention not have been completely focused on where it should have been?

[Zaphod58]

So sad and tragic as there were juvenile figure skating athletes, their coaches and family on that passenger plane and I would imagine there were young people being trained on the military craft. There needs to be a thorough investigation.

As more information is relayed on the news, it was mentioned that this airport and surrounding skies are extremely busy. Now with that knowledge does it not bring up the question as to how this accident could have happened knowing it is one of the busiest, therefore one would assume the proper safety measures are in place?

The military aircraft was supposedly on a training mission with three trainees, could the pilot's attention not have been completely focused on where it should have been?

Training mission doesn’t mean trainees. And if wouldn’t be three trainees if it was new pilots. If would have been one instructor, with one pilot being trained. But even if it was three highly experienced crew members that had been flying the area for years, it would still be a training flight.

[Zaphod58]

Hmmm…

video: Twitter link

It was not autonomous. The existence of an autonomous UH-60 doesn’t automatically mean this is. They’ve been flying that aircraft several years, but the DC demonstration was under extremely controlled conditions and airspace.

[quintessentone]

Training mission doesn’t mean trainees. And if wouldn’t be three trainees if it was new pilots. If would have been one instructor, with one pilot being trained. But even if it was three highly experienced crew members that had been flying the area for years, it would still be a training flight.

All speculation at this point, but any training flight would require one's attention to not be completely focused but rather split here and there, I would imagine.