Posts by user "kap'n krunch" [Posts: 5 Total up-votes: 0 Page: 1 of 1]¶

Video appears to show fuselage partially submerged off the end of the runway 33 approach light pier.

Condolences to the families of the victims - the lives of many changed forever in an instant.

In my opinion, there are way too many issues that contributed to this horrific incident.

An outdated airport that exists primarily for the benefit of the governing class. Seriously, take a few minutes to look at the approach plates - a circle to land approach to rwy 33, 5,200 ft, at night - really??

A video I watched this morning described the government priority parking spaces, special hotline to the airlines to hold planes for last minute departing bureaucrats. As noted above, for several years the destinations from KDCA were tightly controlled to limit the number of operations, yet this has been compromised by bureaucrats utilizing special privileges to lobby airlines to obtain direct flights to their home cities. After all, it\x92s a far longer drive to KIAD.

Apparently there was some talk years ago to utilize KADW, which is also close to the center of government as a replacement to KDCA, but the neighborhood didn\x92t want the noise.

I think the fact the helo was communicating with the KDCA tower on UHF, (SOP in that area) complicates the SA of all involved. Use of the NVG in the helo with a crew of 3 restricted the SA of the crew. An additional crew member on the helo may have helped.

As mentioned, USA ATC hasn\x92t been up to the usual standards but have some empathy for these folks as staffing levels have significantly degraded and they are being asked to do more with less and I think all aircrew operating in the US are aware of this.

Trumps press conference never should have involved the political aspect, it really degrades the message to the victims families. This is an opportunity to fix the problems in the system, invest money in upgrading staffing levels and equipment and changing poor practices that have been accepted into the norm.

As I\x92ve wrote earlier, Army Helo was on UHF freq. CT communicates on that freq as noted on the Washington sectional

Ugh, for the umpteenth time, and put it to bed, helo frequency to DCA CT is 257.6. Take another look at the chart, please. Army helicopters in that area communicate with DCA on UHF.

FYI, the PP in PPRUNE stands for Professional Pilots, stick with playing X-Plane in moms basement.

Runways 15/33 and 04/22 have been closed until 2/9/25 according to the KDCA NOTAM.