As much as I would like to agree with letter writer Dennis Shain’s recent opinion on the Washington, D.C., crash between a commercial airliner and a Blackhawk helicopter, I can’t.
The helicopter was on a full rehearsal for an emergency evacuation. These exercises are necessary. I participated in similar exercises in Europe, and they were always done on the actual real estate and under the conditions they expected to be executed.
It is imperative for those conducting the exercise to be familiar with the environment where they are to be done. Could it have been done more safely? Without a doubt.
We don’t know the full extent of the circumstances, but several things are clear. The helicopter’s transponder was turned off. The crew could have executed the exercise by turning it off and back on to allow themselves to be tracked by the tower. Every step in the exercise must be done. They were wearing night vision goggles that magnify ambient light and are susceptible to washout. An overabundance of light will turn the visual aspect totally green and temporarily blind the user. To fix this they could have done the exercise at a much less congested period, flown lower where the passive light of the city had less effect, and the tower could have prioritized the helicopter in the air space at the time.
Then there’s the control tower. Initial reports state the tower was undermanned. Air space is routinely controlled by one controller for aircraft and one for helicopters. Reports state one controller was doing both and the tower was understaffed.
Unfortunately, as much as commanders try to prevent them, accidents happen. In Europe, we had numerous deaths, though never this massive occurred while we conducted general defense plan exercises. We had a slogan, “Not One,” and everyone was expected to know it meant “Not One Death.”
No death is ever acceptable.
Those exercises were necessary to familiarize ourselves with the terrain and verify the operation remained feasible and that new obstacles had not been placed since the last rehearsal.
I don’t know, but I’m confident they flew this same exercise in the simulator numerous times. But to maintain flight status, pilots must fly so many hours a month. Soldiers are expected to perform under some of the most complex and austere conditions imaginable, but to do it they need practice.
The fact they were rehearsing to evacuate critical personnel from Washington does not justify the accident. It does highlight the crucial and often behind-the-scenes events that are routinely done to protect the nation.
I have full confidence the changes needed once fully identified will be made to preclude another incident.
Regardless of any changes, these flights will remain crucial.
Ray Anderson
Ethel
