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I think cameras should just be installed on public roads and if a vehicle is recorded illegally/dangerously passing, speeding more than X over, etc. the registered owner gets a $1000 fine in the mail (or whatever amount with graduated cost vs. incident numbers). Copy camera can’t prove the owner was driving, but doesn’t matter because it’s their vehicle and they control who drives it. No need for cops wasting time at speed traps, expensive UAS, etc. Also to be clear, big proponent of privacy and limited gov, but there is no right to privacy in public spaces. And I have zero tolerance for self-absorbed asshole drivers.

In 10 years, I could see something like this cruising the freeways. I believe this was supposed to replace the Shadow UAV but I heard it was canceled. VTOL so no launcher/runway required. With AI it could look for the most egregious offenders doing 90-100 MPH plus and track them back to the nest followed by a knock on the door by local LE

Completely on board, but locking onto a red hering like ADS-B accomplishes nothing. Completely revamping technology and how ATC executes in the NAS - well now we’re onto something.

Or maybe, since the FAA has not gotten the job done, it's time for somebody further up the chain to get the job done. Additionally, if the investigation exposes issues that are safety related… even if they are not directly related to the mishap… I would hope they would address and fix them, so more people won't die in the future. We have a former helicopter pilot in our squadron who flew out of DC, and talking to him it sure sounds like the entire place needs to be revamped.

I knew what you meant. The series 70 drop fail requires you to drop it on the muzzle. It shoots the ground. I also think it's a reasonably low probability of happening. Otherwise, it's pretty safe at normal duty spring rates and trigger geometries. My competition guns are more questionable. The P320 should theoretically should be better, however the striker safety failure rate seems to be pretty high (no more 320 advantage over 1911). The slide to FCU play seems to be enough to allow the sear to release the striker in some cases, which inherently also skips the secondary notch. All of the analogous components in a 1911 are in the frame, with essentially no play. Side note: You can basically make a series 70 gun drop safe by using a titanium firing pin and an 2x extra power return spring. This is how Springfield made CA legal 1911s. You'll need to run a fairly heavy (23# or so) mainspring to make it work. I'm not sure you can actually buy a Series 80 anymore for what it's worth.

Earlier in this thread, I laid out my well-informed hunch that the pilot in charge was not focused on her duties, enamored with the D.C. lifestyle, and eager to head to medical school. Some folks here got butt hurt. Well if it looks like a distracted duck flying through congested airspace... its probably a distracted duck ---- The helicopter was twice warned by an air traffic controller about the approaching passenger jet, once about two minutes before the collision and again about 90 seconds later, the presentation shows. Both times, the helicopter said it could see the other plane and requested a “visual separation,” in which they would be allowed to navigate around the jet. A controller approved that. About 20 seconds before the crash, air traffic control instructed the helicopter to "pass behind" the jet — but that command wasn't heard in the Black Hawk because of a brief audio interruption from their microphone, the cockpit transcript states. Five seconds after the second warning to watch out for the incoming plane, Eaves, the helicopter instructor, told Lobach, “Alright, kinda come left for me ma’am, I think that’s why he’s asking,” to which she replied, “Sure." Eaves then said, “We’re kinda out towards the middle,” and Lobach said, “Oh-kay fine," drawing out the okay, according to the transcript. https://people.com/final-seconds-before-american-airlines-dc-crash-revealed-by-ntsb-11781679

Many remote pilots at Kunsan extended to 18 months to get a better assignment on the backside. Most accompanied tours at Osan started at two years. On the Army side, I knew multiple guys that extended their two year accompanied assignment to three years as the Army pace of life was much more family friendly in Korea than stateside. Especially during the height of Iraq and Afghanistan. Might have changed a bit, but given that many Army units are doing 9+ month rotations still, I'd be many guys are choosing to extend to have some family stability. Obviously that is for guys there with their families, probably a bit different for single guys...

A pre-series-80 1911. That's what I meant by "a 1911 or revolver that our elders used to carry." I would choose a modern 1911 with a pin block over the 320. No worries if you don't agree, but those guns were not safe, just badass 🤣😂.

Your larger final point is fine and I agree, but your specific risk analysis of a 1911 vs the P320 is nonsense.

Oh don’t worry, we initiated a scramble to field tablets and stratus that also don’t solve the actual problem, but can be briefed to leadership as, “did something.” Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dong first would also be acceptable.

That simple change (“SHALL hold route 4 traffic east of point X with aircraft on 33 approach”) would solve this problem. So simple, yet people are bitching about mil ADS-B.

I agree. It's a dumb to fly under landing traffic. Especially with no safe separation provided for both aircraft. They should have not been cleared to continue on route four via visual separation at night with an aircraft circling to land 33. They used to not clear you to continue on route four via visual separation with landing traffic to 33. They would have you hold over Haines Point or something similar.

Time for the wood chipper. Feet first preferably.

I agree with your post after this one I’m quoting. But, come on….. if they were “ at or below (not above)” the minimum clearance as the pax bird crosses over top ON GLIDEPATH was 75 feet. There’s no way anyone involved creating this procedure should have found that acceptable. I guarantee if the pilots flying into DCA knew that was a possibility when they accepted a clearance to sidestep to the other runway with a helo on that route, they would have declined every time.

Hell awaits!

The pilot and his girlfriend both arrested for fucking their 11 year old daughter starting when she was only 6.

Easy fix: Don't clear someone for visual separation on route four if there's an aircraft on short final to 33. Complacency from both Tower and the Helo caused this.

Prior to the series 80, 1911s could and did go off from being dropped. And revolvers have an equally checkered past, including the Colt peacemaker. I would happily trust a Sig P320, fully conceding that there is some sort of unidentified mechanical malfunction occurring that causes them to occasionally misfire, over carrying a 1911 or revolver that our elders used to carry. Guns were not safer back then, we just didn't care about accidental deaths as much.

Yeah, but humans don't work that way, and this line of reasoning got a bunch of innocent people killed, so new procedures are needed in my opinion. Being off altitude, misidentifying visual traffic at night in an ocean of lights, or drifting off flight path are well within the reasonable bounds of human error. Procedures at congested airports should not allow for basic human error to result in a crash. That's the whole point of having these procedures.

If you fly at or below (not above) the required altitude for that route, the helicopter route worked. Also, if you hear any aircraft cleared to land on the runway that crosses said route, use your hands and maneuver the helicopter out of the path of said runway. If you're cleared to maintain visual separation, you need to do so.

I miss juicey girls.

@Swizzle This is a Dibs!

It'd take at least a 12 pack to dibs that.

One of those other cops called for “backup” should have immediately called him out for this level of dumbassery. He needs to find a job with no authority over anyone or anything. He acted like a small child pissed off that mommy took his toy truck from him for nap time.