Washington Capital Airport - A Nightmare for Commercial Pilots
Ronald Reagan Washington Airport in the US is a nightmare even for skilled pilots due to its narrow airspace, heavy traffic, and frequent helicopter presence.
Ten years ago, commercial pilot Rick Redfern was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) when he spotted a red Coast Guard helicopter flying at an altitude of 15 meters above the Potomac River. Air traffic control immediately ordered the helicopter to move out of the way, and Redfern had to quickly maneuver to avoid a collision.
Redfern’s situation occurred during the day with clear visibility. "At night, lights can disorient pilots; what they think they are seeing might not be accurate," said the American pilot.
Redfern’s nightmare and that of many commercial pilots became a reality on the night of January 29 when PSA Airlines' CRJ700 aircraft collided with a US Army UH-60 helicopter while landing at KDCA. US officials reported that no one survived among the 64 people on the CRJ700 and the three crew members on the UH-60.
Commercial aircraft at Reagan Washington Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on January 1. Photo: AFP
Ronald Reagan Washington Airport covers nearly 300 hectares, located near the Potomac River, with the center of Washington, D.C., and the Anacostia-Bolling Joint Base on the other side. Its convenience and proximity to Capitol Hill make it an attractive destination for US politicians.
For many years, lawmakers have lobbied to expand access and increase flights to make travel easier. After a heated debate, the US Congress last year allowed five new routes from KDCA to San Antonio, San Diego, Seattle, Las Vegas, and San Francisco.
However, this convenient location also poses challenges for pilots. Aircraft approaching KDCA must strictly follow narrow corridors to avoid restricted airspace around the White House, the Pentagon, and numerous nearby government buildings established after the 9/11 attacks.
KDCA is also one of the busiest airports in the US. Designed to handle 15 million passengers annually, the actual number often reaches 1.5 times that, according to News Nation Now. The airport has three runways, the largest being Runway 01/19, 2,100 meters long. The other two runways, 04/22 and 15/33, are shorter, measuring 1,500 and 1,600 meters, respectively.
"The turn from the east bank of the Potomac into Runway 33 is very, very tight," Redfern told AP on January 30, referring to the runway that PSA Airlines' CRJ700 was approaching before the collision.
Even the most experienced pilots face challenges landing at KDCA. They must avoid numerous commercial aircraft, military planes, and no-fly zones.
Aviation experts say military helicopters flying over the Potomac River near the airport are entirely normal. According to the US Government Accountability Office, about 88,000 military helicopter flights and 18,000 law enforcement flights occurred within 30 miles of the airport from 2016-2019.
Landing at KDCA is a "unique experience" due to the limited space and inability to directly communicate with military aircraft due to different radio frequencies, seven American pilots told Reuters.
Aircraft movement directions and accident location. Graphics: CNN
To avoid collisions, pilots rely on the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). When an aircraft is detected at a close enough distance to pose a danger, TCAS directs the pilot to climb or descend, or turn left or right. However, TCAS stops issuing instructions below 330 meters to avoid the risk of the aircraft hitting the ground.
"There is simply not enough room to make a turn at this low altitude," said John Nance, aviation safety expert and former commercial pilot.
Instead, air traffic control ensures safety. They often change the landing runway for planes, but this makes it harder for helicopter pilots to grasp the situation.
"Everything is like a concert, requiring very smooth communication and coordination between pilots and the control tower. Everyone must focus and act precisely according to instructions," said Brad Bowman, former pilot of the 12th Army Aviation Battalion, the unit operating the UH-60 involved in the January 29 collision, to CNN.
Reuters' assessment of incidents at Ronald Reagan Washington Airport involving helicopters shows that pilots have warned of near-collision situations since the 1980s. In 46 incidents anonymously reported by pilots to the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), 26 were near collisions or dangerous close encounters.
"We have long been shouting in vain that a tragedy would happen because the US system has been stretched to its limits," retired United Airlines captain Ross Aimer told AP.
The January 29 accident reminded Darrell Feller, former pilot of the US National Guard, of an experience 10 years ago while flying a military helicopter over the Potomac River. Air traffic controllers warned him to be mindful of a commercial plane about to land on Runway 33, meaning it would cross the helicopter's path.
However, observing the situation was not easy. Feller could not see the approaching aircraft because it blended with the city lights and cars on a nearby bridge. He had to immediately descend, flying just 15 meters above the river to ensure no collision occurred.
"I couldn't see that plane. I lost track of it in the city lights. I was genuinely scared," Feller recalled.
Control tower at Reagan Washington Airport, Arlington, Virginia. Photo: AFP
Former pilot Arthur Wolk, now an aviation lawyer, had a similar experience. "You can't tell if that light is from an approaching plane you need to avoid or another one. It might not even be plane lights because there are a billion conflicting light sources in Washington with the directions you receive," he said.
The January 29 accident, the worst in the US since 2001, could prompt changes to reduce risks at Ronald Reagan Washington Airport. Daniel Driscoll, nominee for US Army Secretary, said on January 30 that the service might reassess training flight activities near Washington airspace.
"The accident seemed avoidable. I think we should consider where it is suitable to conduct training, and it may not be near airports like Ronald Reagan Washington," he said.
"It's incredible how many flights have occurred without accidents. When an incident actually happens, all the issues become clear," said Randy Babbitt, former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official.
Như Tâm (According to Reuters, CNN, AP)
