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Local Retired Pilot Weighs In on Reagan Airport Collision
A collision between a passenger jet and a Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport has a local retired pilot sharing his perspective. Mark Stephens, 68, a former Delta Air Lines pilot with 30 years of experience, frequently flew into Reagan during his career.
Stephens considers Reagan, along with LaGuardia Airport in New York, to be among the most dangerous airports on the East Coast. He cites the heavy air traffic and intersecting runways requiring high-speed takeoffs and landings in close proximity.
He suggests limiting the size of planes using the airport. Smaller planes, like the American Airlines jet involved in the incident, are harder to see than larger aircraft. However, he acknowledges that reducing the number of flights to accommodate larger planes is unlikely due to the impact on airline routes.
Regarding the collision, Stephens believes poor visibility played a role. He speculates that the helicopter pilot, likely using night vision goggles, may not have seen the airplane. Night vision goggles can restrict peripheral vision and depth perception, especially at night.
Stephens also discussed the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). While TCAS is a critical safety feature that he credits with saving his life in a previous incident, it is less effective at low altitudes. He believes this limitation may have contributed to the collision.
Stephens recounted a near-miss he experienced while piloting a Delta flight out of Atlanta. A civilian aircraft was descending towards his plane, and TCAS alerted him, instructing him to descend rapidly to avoid a collision.
He expects changes in regulations regarding helicopter operations near commercial airports following this incident, such as restricting the use of night vision goggles within a certain radius.
Finally, Stephens offered reassurance to nervous fliers. He emphasized that statistically, air travel remains far safer than driving a car.