Quote:
Originally Posted by DaFace
And, likewise, you can't see below a jet very well either, so it's pretty likely that neither aircraft saw the other.
I'd be surprised if there was a true error on the ATC side, as it sounds like the flight rules in the area allow for visual separation. The ATC pointed out the heading of the CRJ, and the Black Hawk pilot confirmed that they had a visual on it. That very probably seems like a miscommunication and mistake on the pilot's part. All that said, I think it's a very valid question if the flight rules in the area should be reconsidered.
All that said, others have alluded to the "swiss cheese" metaphor, and it's very likely that it applies here. Some level of fault lies with:
-BH flying "dark" and, therefore, not visible on CRJ's equipment
-Short-staffed ATC having one person working multiple roles, which isn't unusual but might need to be considered due to the complexity of this airspace
-ATC not understanding that the BH couldn't actually have a visual on the CRJ (assuming that's true)
-Rules that allow helicopters to fly directly into the descent path at all
-Rules that allow for visual separation in the area
-Simple BH pilot error
Time will tell what they conclude in the investigation, but it sure seems like this is iffy enough that they should change how things operate in the area.
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Probably a combination of those thigs listed which is almost always the case.
The staffing issue seems to be pretty glaring to me though. That's WHY the ATC exist, to keep this shit from happening.