Originally published at: NTSB Warns Of Midair Collision Risk At Burbank Airport
NTSB Chair Homendy flagged Burbank Airport as a potential midair collision hotspot due to heavy mixed traffic.
Average of One NMAC report per year over five years?
Military helicopters should be limited to military operations areas, and should not be at Burbank. Private commercial helicopters have all the latest technology, unlike the military. And Burbank is unique because of its unique weather. Either clear or foggy. When foggy, the airliners must go elsewhere leaving the airport to commercial helicopters. So maybe increased risk of collisions at Burbank. But the weather circumvents most of the potential possible collisions. So, like most aviation situations, there is more to it than meets the eye, literally and figuratively; at Burbank. Having flown out of Burbank in the distant past.
The problem at BUR is traffic over VNY. We cross the FAF for runway 8 (BUDDE) at 2753’, which is basically right over VNY, elevation 802, pattern altitudes 2000’ and 1800’ for the west and east runways, respectively. We get TCAS RAs frequently.
This could come down to a dispute between GA and airline traffic. If the problem is airliners going into Burbank getting numerous RA’s, maybe a reduction in airliner traffic is needed. Not holding my breath on that happening. At the altitudes mentioned, the TCAS systems on airliners should catch any traffic missed visually. All traffic going into both airports are supposed to have ADS-B out already. Other than the terrain, I don’t think the BUR/VNY airspace is any worse than the New York area, and I don’t hear any NTSB complaints about that! I have plenty of experience flying in both.
I hope someone is paying attention to her! Last time everyone ignored the advice in favor of revenue and convenience, 67 people were killed…needlessly!!!
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