Airlines, airplanes and other kerfuffles

[AWP]

I saw that, that's nuts. That plane is almost as old as the B-52.

They used one of them in Afghanistan, 2008 testing the BACN program.
The North Spin - News: Battlefield Airborne Communications Node Testing Continues

I saw it at Kandahar where it was based. One of the young airmen with me thought it was new. Uh, yes, but no. One of the officers said it was there to sniff the air for underground nuclear tests in Pakistan.

 

[DA SWO]

They used one of them in Afghanistan, 2008 testing the BACN program.
The North Spin - News: Battlefield Airborne Communications Node Testing Continues

I saw it at Kandahar where it was based. One of the young airmen with me thought it was new. Uh, yes, but no. One of the officers said it was there to sniff the air for underground nuclear tests in Pakistan.

It's original weather mission was to "sniff" for nuke particles.

 

[AWP]

I don't know if anyone followed the TN FlyGirl saga, but the NTSB's final report s out. Oh boy, why was this woman even flying?

The bad part is anyone who questioned her online was some combination of misogynist, jealous, a hater in general, etc. Never mind that her own videos were apparently chock full of horrible decisions and someone did a mass deletion after her death. The whole thing was a shit show and you can't hate influencers enough. This one died and killed her dad chasing likes.

 

[DA SWO]

I don't know if anyone followed the TN FlyGirl saga, but the NTSB's final report s out. Oh boy, why was this woman even flying?

The bad part is anyone who questioned her online was some combination of misogynist, jealous, a hater in general, etc. Never mind that her own videos were apparently chock full of horrible decisions and someone did a mass deletion after her death. The whole thing was a shit show and you can't hate influencers enough. This one died and killed her dad chasing likes.

Was her dad a pilot?

 

[AWP]

Was her dad a pilot?

Nope. My understanding though, and I think Juan Browne even mentions this, is the dad was known to handle comms and even some of the avionics. ATC recording from her final flight has at least one transmission from him saying "help us." A 78 YO non-pilot, I don't think he ever held a PPL or at least that wasn't reported, involved with comms and the avionics? With a pilot who was easily confused if her iPad didn't work because she didn't learn her own systems?

You add that to her tox screen and I don't think you need to be a pilot to know how her story was going to end.

 

[Box]

Who are "we" to keep her from buying and flying her own air plane...


...fascists

 

[AWP]

Who are "we" to keep her from buying and flying her own air plane...


...fascists

Why buy when you can steal?
Aloha snackbar,
M. Atta

 

[BlackSmokeRisinG]

Major ground collision at LaGuardia airport. At least 2 dead and 4 still missing. What a horrible situation.

ATC cleared a firetruck to cross an active runway. It appears ATC was controlling both air and ground at the same time which of course is dangerous. Most likely due to staffing issues. I feel bad for the guy, you could hear the fear in his voice trying to get the fire truck to stop...

Delta already confirmed 2 pilots dead.

RIP to the pilots. Hope the LGA Firefighters are doing OK also. Probably several serious injuries.

You can get audio of the whole incident with live map here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1s16taa/aircraft_collides_with_a_fire_truck_on_runway_4

 

[AWP]

ATC cleared a firetruck to cross an active runway. It appears ATC was controlling both air and ground at the same time which of course is dangerous. Most likely due to staffing issues.

The tower or one controller handling both? The former is supposed to happen, the latter is not. That said, staffing issues could very well have played a role because of tower manning and responsibilities. At least two positions are there to provide oversight and coordination so if they are pulled into working other positions that does become a problem.

As an aside, any flying I've done in the last year, the only time I'm nervous now is within the 10 mile range controlled by the tower. I don't trust the system, not like I have for 30+ years of flying. This incident was bound to happen sooner or later. Shout out to the FAA for creating this problem about 2-ish decades ago.

 

[Cookie_]

This incident was bound to happen sooner or later. Shout out to the FAA for creating this problem about 2-ish decades ago.

I'm not quite an aviation nerd; how is this an FAA created problem?

 

[AWP]

I'm not quite an aviation nerd; how is this an FAA created problem?

This comes from my knowledge of the .gov hiring process and from talking to numerous controllers when I worked ATC in Afghanistan.

It is no secret the .gov hiring process is broken, so waiting around for a yay or nay for 6, 8, 12 months isn't something everyone can do. There's one part.

The other. and larger,b problem is the FAA itself. It trains you in house in Oklahoma City, BUT the requirements to get in the door have differed radically over the years. At various points in time we have:
- You must have a specific two year degree from certain colleges and universities.
- An emphasis on women and minorities.
- Unwillingness to take prior military controllers.
- At one point a decade-ish ago, it did all of the above at the same time!
- Straight up retaining people who aren't qualified, again with a preference on women and minorities. It does this across ATC and maintenance alike so we're looking at an FAA or more likely a .gov-wide problem.
- Never really having a plan to grow the workforce. It has been largely reactive resulting in some of the craziness above.

There's probably other topics to explore, but that's off the top of my head.

 

[Box]

- Straight up retaining people who aren't qualified

Why do you hate equality of outcome ???

 

[AWP]

Why do you hate equality of outcome ???

I'm just -ist like that I guess.

 

[Muppet]

Oh damn

 

[Marauder06]

I heard about this incident, low on details but heard that a plane was taxiing and hit a fire truck. I assumed that it was low-speed bump. Had no idea people died. Damn.

 

[BlackSmokeRisinG]

I heard about this incident, low on details but heard that a plane was taxiing and hit a fire truck. I assumed that it was low-speed bump. Had no idea people died. Damn.

Plane was landing. Said it was going about 80 mph when it hit the fire truck.

 

[Kraut783]

Firetruck was cleared to proceed and respond to a United Airlines medical call....Jazz airline was landing....bad juju.

Apparently, due to manning issues...there was only ONE ATC on duty for the entire shift

 

[Box]

I'm not fully educated - but is there a tie to this with regard to impacts from government shutdowns and budget freezes ?

 

[DA SWO]

I'm not fully educated - but is there a tie to this with regard to impacts from government shutdowns and budget freezes ?

No, ATC is a DOT function.
Multiple administration's not hiring new controllers.
Biden capped white male New hires as a DEI initiative.
We need to reduce traffic at major airports.