Congress determines the
number of flights allowed at DCA (Reagan). Members of Congress want more direct flights home; last year, the number of flights was increased “despite warnings that increased air traffic around Washington would raise the risk of delays and accidents.” More than 50 slots per day have been added since 2000.
(
NewsNation) — "Congress added more daily flights to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport’s schedule last year — and multiple other times over the past quarter century — despite warnings from the FAA and the airport"
View attachment 343408
Fly the approach with a pilot's viewpoint.
Note his points on how safety has been CONSTANTLY compromised because congress AUTHORIZED excessive traffic into an airport not designed for it.
The airline pilot NEVER heard any of the helicopter proximity warnings by ATC they had no heads up that some helicopter is "getting too close" to them.
I only flew little flivvers, mostly to rural airports. But at 400 hours of total flight time I didn't feel like I was a "high time experienced" pilot.
Compare 500 hours to the typical 2000 hours a year many put in at work.
Spit balling: but at 1,000 hours an instructor isn't a seasoned, been there, done that, seen it all, pilot either.
I haven't heard any TIT or amount of time in this challenging DC airspace for these military pilots.
Compare to airline PIC requirements; "In theory, the bare minimum flight time for someone who flies under Part 91 or 135 to become a Part 121 airline captain is 2,500 hours"
Some background on commercial pilot hours required.
https://simpleflying.com/us-airline-captain-requirements/
At that time at that approach the airline pilots have a laser like focus on the runway and airplane configuration. . I'd argue with Jim that the co pilot's job on final is to be looking around for conflicting traffic. At that point his job is backing up the pilot's concentration on getting that aircraft into that runway with correct alignment for left right, up down, AND airspeed while completing landing configuration, ready to assist configuring for and flying a missed approach if things aren't what they should be.
I am so Sorry those pilots and that planeload of passengers got screwed by a system that valued perks for poohbahs over safety.
My old saw is that accidents require many links in a safety chain breaking. "The system" had busted way to many of links before they were sent down that approach.
"Heads need to roll".
