Quote:
Originally Posted by npwalters
I'm a former Army helicopter pilot qualified in all models of the Blackhawk. I have over 8000 flight hours and a significant number of NVG hours.
It is difficult under NVGs to determine how far away an observed light is. That is particularly true in an environment where there are many light sources - such as the DC area. If the crew was unaided the risk factors increase. An additional factor is that (contrary to news reports) this was not a highly experienced crew.
My GUESS, based on what I've read and seen, is that the Blackhawk pilot saw a light source that he thought was the airliner but was not. He reported to ATC that he had the aircraft in sight and would avoid it (pass behind or slow and let the airliner pass by). That took the onus off of ATC to direct a turn for either aircraft. The responsibility shifted to the Blackhawk and no deviation was required of the airliner.
The tower could (perhaps) have given better notice of where the RJ was and what runway he was approaching. It is unclear right now, but unlikely, that the Blackhawk had TCAS or ADS B which can give situational awareness of other aircraft.
The airliner was in a descent and apparently above the helicopter. That is a blind spot to the helicopter pilot(s) and likely to the airliner since the Blackhawk was near and below the RJ. The end to the tragedy was that the two aircraft collided - probably with the airliner descending into the helicopter.
In answer to another comment, it is very common to have helicopter low level routes below airport approach paths. It is done to keep the relatively slow helicopters out of the airspace used by larger - and faster -aircraft while allowing the rotorcraft to complete their mission. This particular route is inside the DC capital area and is VERY tightly controlled and available only to a very small set of aircraft.
It is certainly a tragic event. It is likely the Blackhawk crew was at fault (based on news reports). It is understandable - to me - how it happened. I, and every other pilot, have made a similar mistake that only by the grace of God did not end up in an accident.
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Nice to hear from someone who knows what he's talking about.
I think you're right in everything you typed, other than I believe ATC has to share some of the fault with the BH pilots (I thought I read there were at least 2, if not 3 "pilots" on that aircraft, at least one of which, was an "Instructor"?)
If the facts are as presented in all the news reports are accurate, ATC had a CA alert. The Controller was apparently satisfied in his own mind, that the BH really had the CRJ in sight and wasn't mistaken. The Controller didn't rely on his own equipment, which indicated there was something amiss.
It's sort of the like the guy who refuses to rely on his instruments, because he sees it differently, outside the window.
(You don't think the BH had TCAS or ADS-B?)