Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials are considering a permanent ban on helicopters flying near Reagan Washington National Airport airspace, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
A day late and a dollar short, however, I guess common sense enlightenment is better late than never. Unfortunately, it cost lives to get the wake up call. Then again, the FAA only reacts and I emphasize reacts, when people die. Run a business like that and you’re out of business in a heart beat.
Well, it’s real hard to predict when people are going to die.
How about inside any Mode C vale ADS-B, if so equipped, must be turned on and functioning.
No ADS-B, no access.
Anybody with any sort of aviation experience could look at the DC Heli chart and see there was an issue with putting a helicopter route that close to the approach path. Many people, especially those who have flown into that area, have been predicting something like this was going to happen for a while. I’m honestly surprised it took as long as it did. The only reason why this was allowed to continue was because of political pressure and bureaucratic inertia.
I fly that airspace all the time as I’m based at KVKX in the FRZ.
The vast majority of military Helos and light aircraft do not show on my screen. ADS-B off or not installed.
The heavies on the other hand do to include the E-4s, VC-25s, C-17s and C-130s do.
So: 2 incidents with piper acft and FAA issues a MANDATE that affects 31,000 acft, while, after years of close calls it takes the removal of a bunch of mangled metal from the river for them to decide to require heli’s to burn a few more gallons of go-juice.
Plus, it’s taken the FAA over 40 YEARS and counting, to come up with a solution to leaded fuel. Along with a host of other improvements elsewhere (automotive tech?) that get left out because of certification costs.
Is it possible that the FAA, as an organization, has lost sight of its original mission and become just another bunch of (primarily) self sustaining bureaucrats?
How long before Elon stops by?
KDCA should be closed. It primarily exists because congressmen don’t like the ride to KIAD or KBWI. KDCA’s existence greatly complicates the timely identification of another 911-type attack on either the White House or Capitol buildings.
It will close when Congress imposes term limits on themselves.
A “permanent ban” will never happen because military brass is gonna be military brass.
What will happen will be a minor addition to the printed “routes” that require a hold before crossing centerlines.
The FAA reacts when industry and Congress tells it it’s allowed to react.
Sometimes Congress tells the FAA to overreact.
Self sustaining bureaucrats? Talk about self sustaining and mention Elon in the same paragraph… I wouldn’t trust E to take out my trash.
Glad I am not the only one who advocates closing DCA permanently!
He has been, haven’t you been paying attention?
“Well, it’s real hard to predict when people are going to die.”
No it’s not. I predict when a helicopter runs into an airplane, or vice versa, both carrying people while both flying, people are going to die.
That’s not at all what I meant. You entirely missed the pint.
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