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I'm not sure why they allow helicopters to fly against the other traffic at that airport. You don't see passenger planes flying past each other like that. This

I'm not sure why they allow helicopters to fly against the other traffic at that airport. You don't see passenger planes flying past each other like that. This practice was obviously a contributor to the recent collision. I'd expect a change to that in the near future.

cryptonector 2y ago
It's probably time to close that airport. It's too small and very inconveniently (for safety and security) located, even though it's convenient for travelers.
- sybercecurity 2y ago
  >...even though it's convenient for travelers Which is why it will not close. It's easier for Congress members, senior staff, etc. to use rather than the drive out to Dulles of BWI. It's convenient for powerful people.
  - sithadmin 2y ago
    It’s convenient for everyone. Normal, local people (including myself) tend to strongly prefer DCA when a route is available in/out rather than deal with Dulles or BWI.
    - unethical_ban 2y ago
      A big deal is being made in San Antonio that we now have a direct flight to National. We need to keep up with the Joneses.
jcranmer 2y ago
But think of all of the dignitaries who would have to be driven around DC in traffic as opposed to being flown on helicopters to where they need to go!
- porphyra 2y ago
  why don't they just take wmata? The Metrorail is immune to traffic.
  - ryandrake 2y ago
    These people see themselves as aristocrats. You don't expect them to travel with the commoners? They might have to see or even touch someone below them.
    - macintux 2y ago
      Mike Dukakis regularly took the Boston subway to work as governor.
      - ycombinatrix 2y ago
        Donald Trump regularly eats McDonald's. They're just like us!
      - porphyra 2y ago
        Joe Biden commuted daily from Delaware to Washington, D.C. on Amtrak during his Senate years and was nicknamed "Amtrak Joe" as a result.
  - jcranmer 2y ago
    I think many of the people being flown by helicopters would go apoplectic if they had to rub shoulders with the hoi polloi in public transit.
    - m4rtink 2y ago
      Maybe tat is still better than you know, being dead ? Due to flying out of a horrendously unsafe airport.
      - hulitu 2y ago
toast0 2y ago
Same reason taxiways cross runways at most airports. You've got vehicles that need to be on the other side of the approach/departure path, and the only way for that to happen is if the paths cross. The airspace in the area is complex, so it's a challenge to provide useful helicopter routes while reducing potential conflict.
travisby 2y ago
The airports I fly at (student rotary pilot) have all had the same traffic for rotary/fixed wing, but the FAA talks about [flying _opposite_ planes at a different altitude](https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap4_section_3.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com#:~:text=Helicopters%20operating%20in,fixed%20wing%20traffic. https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html...) as a potential practice. My understanding of why (and also why we're cleared _direct_ a lot of times) is that we move a lot slower than planes, and that ends up being dangerous in its own right in a pattern shared with planes!

cryptonector 2y ago

It's probably time to close that airport. It's too small and very inconveniently (for safety and security) located, even though it's convenient for travelers.

sybercecurity 2y ago
>...even though it's convenient for travelers Which is why it will not close. It's easier for Congress members, senior staff, etc. to use rather than the drive out to Dulles of BWI. It's convenient for powerful people.
- sithadmin 2y ago
  It’s convenient for everyone. Normal, local people (including myself) tend to strongly prefer DCA when a route is available in/out rather than deal with Dulles or BWI.
  - unethical_ban 2y ago
    A big deal is being made in San Antonio that we now have a direct flight to National. We need to keep up with the Joneses.

jcranmer 2y ago

But think of all of the dignitaries who would have to be driven around DC in traffic as opposed to being flown on helicopters to where they need to go!

porphyra 2y ago
why don't they just take wmata? The Metrorail is immune to traffic.
- ryandrake 2y ago
  These people see themselves as aristocrats. You don't expect them to travel with the commoners? They might have to see or even touch someone below them.
  - macintux 2y ago
    Mike Dukakis regularly took the Boston subway to work as governor.
    - ycombinatrix 2y ago
      Donald Trump regularly eats McDonald's. They're just like us!
    - porphyra 2y ago
      Joe Biden commuted daily from Delaware to Washington, D.C. on Amtrak during his Senate years and was nicknamed "Amtrak Joe" as a result.
- jcranmer 2y ago
  I think many of the people being flown by helicopters would go apoplectic if they had to rub shoulders with the hoi polloi in public transit.
  - m4rtink 2y ago
    Maybe tat is still better than you know, being dead ? Due to flying out of a horrendously unsafe airport.
    - hulitu 2y ago

toast0 2y ago

Same reason taxiways cross runways at most airports. You've got vehicles that need to be on the other side of the approach/departure path, and the only way for that to happen is if the paths cross. The airspace in the area is complex, so it's a challenge to provide useful helicopter routes while reducing potential conflict.

travisby 2y ago

The airports I fly at (student rotary pilot) have all had the same traffic for rotary/fixed wing, but the FAA talks about [flying _opposite_ planes at a different altitude](https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap4_section_3.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com#:~:text=Helicopters%20operating%20in,fixed%20wing%20traffic. https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html...) as a potential practice. My understanding of why (and also why we're cleared _direct_ a lot of times) is that we move a lot slower than planes, and that ends up being dangerous in its own right in a pattern shared with planes!