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When you’re at 300’ on an approach, your visual scan is the runway in front of you. There was not a breakdown in visual scan for the RJ.

🥱 - Yawn. Change the rules first, then worry about the rest. VA started moving on tinnitus, but I don't know if they made the changes. Also, how do you treat that? Also, they never note tinnitus on a hearing test, they just keep saying, "stop pressing the button." BTW, at flight med, when the first tone is heard, its press... press... pause... press... At the VA, they had a way better setup for hearing testing and really good headsets. It's in that super quiet testing booth where the tinnitus really rings out. Lastly, I can't stand soft talkers or kids that run 5 words into one like the other day, doyuwanaresee. What? repeats. I'm sorry, I'm hard of hearing. Do you want your receipt? oh. No thanks. It's like talking to fucking Pikeys.

I think Tulsi will start with whoever put her on the 'Quiet Skies" watch list that got her the full Monty colonoscopy everytime she flew anywhere.

Hey, is Trump going to get rid of this stupid/useless Obamacare tax form that I just got? That alone will save 150+ million pieces of paper, ink/toner, envelopes, postage, mail transport space, mail carrier work, mailbox space, time of tax professionals, time of tax software developers, call center time answering questions about the form, and 10 other things I didn't think of. Get Elon's "Big Balls" on it and EO that shit away.

Putting myself in the RJ's position, this is what I think: Tower asks if they can circle, the crew likely does a quick yes/no chat and answers yes. They quickly answer yes because they think they have the experience to take on that risk. Work load increases. PM probably looks up the RNAV 33 for box entry or goes straight into the box to set up a runway 33 extended centerline, anything to help them find the runway because they know its a tight turn to final with little margin to get it lined up and its night. With talk and action on those tasks, the ears probably tune out anything that's not their call sign as they set themselves up for 33 and look for the runway. Other dude has to fly the plane, maybe autopilot off. If ATC had called out PAT to the RJ, the ears would have perked up and eyes go outside and maybe this is becomes just another HATR in a pile of DCA HATRs. TCAS aural alerts are inhibited at low altitudes (500ft I think) so they probably never got anything from TCAS. Tower reiterating to PAT to "pass behind the RJ" probably isn't enough clue that the RJ is question was them, but it was this point in time where tower should have called the go around for the RJ because PAT was not performing their clearance of maintain separation. Hell, tower could have tried to notify the RJ of PAT at that last transmission which might have still lead to just a super close near miss. But tower put maintaining separation wholly on PAT. Possible fixes. Procedural deconfliction. Like sectors into a FOB, I can see the river as 1 aircraft at a time. Next, full-time helo position in DCA tower, no exceptions. Third, remodeling of some of the approaches into DCA and the helo routes. Fourth, night time restrictions for 33 ops, especially by the airlines. Lastly, slot restrictions on DCA to lower the traffic count. As HeloDude said, PAT is at fault with ATC contributing. Ditto the DISCLAIMER.

Tulsi will be fantastic. and Mitch McConnell was the only republican to vote against her. Fuck that guy.

He looks like a gay Darth Vader.

The irony here is amazing

In principle, I don't disagree with you. However, At what point on a visual approach are you not responsible for see and avoid? I don't like it, especially in light of this outcome, but we were all taught that fundamental rule on day one of instrument flying. And I highly doubt the final report gets published without mention of it.

Because if the "idea works" should not be measured on whether we can pay LTS to fly at civilian schools, but by whether that actually produces pilots to acceptable AF standards. (Press X to doubt)

We’re gonna see a lot of news from this office in the next few weeks.

As it should be. all that Army shit.

If you sincerely believe this point of view, do you support Elon and his DOGE interns? In my view, an intellectually honestly and consistent way to argue is say look, the President is the unitary executive and his senate-confirmed agency heads are executing his policy goals. They should have a freer hand to make some of these staffing decisions. Maybe you implement Schedule F, maybe you do other things, etc. like were tried in the first Trump admin to loosen some of the potentially overbearing federal worker protections. You could also get Congress (which happens to now be controlled by the President’s party) to pass appropriations more to the President’s liking. They could abolish Congressionally-created agencies or departments, reduce funding or end-strength levels, etc. They have seemed amenable to that. What I think is happening now is unconstitutional impoundment of funds Congress has appropriated, and also just having “your team’s” unelected bureaucrat (Elon Musk) coming in to be a hatchet man to make otherwise illegal decisions. I’m not sure the best way to emphasize how much you hate unelected bureaucrats having too much power is to use one to unilaterally do a bunch of stuff, but just stuff you like better. It’s like Elon at Twitter - he’s not a “free speech absolutist” as he claims, he just wanted content moderation more to his liking. Now it’s just different things that are throttled and censored or “shadow banned.” Just because you like the outcome shouldn’t make the process legal or correct - that’s the argument the right often makes, particularly members of Congress, when laws are passed but then the administration of the opposite party implements them in potentially unintended ways. Not that there’s not hypocrisy on the left, there is. Open to your thoughts.

It's not socialized, its part of the deal. Socialization would force all Drs and hospitals/clinics to be part of it and all of us forced to use it forever. I have a choice to use it or my employer plan, and my Dr has a choice to participate.

Thems the rules. Prove the lying part, or is it just being forty rucking sack, 20 years on a flight line, etc.?

This MAGA has to tame the unelected bureaucrats and their groupies https://redstate.com/bonchie/2025/02/12/scott-jennings-baits-cnn-analyst-into-make-a-damning-admission-n2185490

Gig lines

Another reason to love Trump! Cardi B blames Trump for ruining her shoes at the Super Bowl, demands he bring back her deported uncle How this thing actually believes anyone gives a shit what it thinks (a stretch of the term) or says is beyond me! Instead of bringing back her illegal uncle, let's send her to wherever he was sent! The quicker we rid US society of this self-entitled scum such as this, the better!

https://www.twz.com/air/mystery-vertical-takeoff-and-landing-aircraft-emerges-at-mojave-air-and-space-port

Ukraine using a page out of the Israeli playbook. https://www.yahoo.com/news/drone-headsets-sent-russian-troops-153542947.html (underline below my emphasis). Russian soldiers received drone headsets that exploded when switched on, Russian media reported. The state news agency TASS said the sabotaged headsets were supplied via humanitarian aid.

Hello Baseops community, I am a prospective pilot applicant (preferably fighters but not picky) and I have several questions regarding my competitiveness (starting to put packets together) for the national guard/reserves. AFOQT Pilot 99 CSO 98 ABM 99 AcApt 83 Verb 72 Quant 84 GRE scores 156/170V 161/170Q 4.5 / 6.0A (for USAF and SF line officer pre qualification form asked for this?) PCSM/TBAS not taken yet Letters of rec: 2LT currently in UPT prior enlisted DPE Flight School Employer 25 years old, male, civilian B.S. Chemistry 3.3 / 4.0 138 Credits Some post-bach schooling (MechE) 3.93/4.0 16 credits (prereqs for AeroE PhD) Flight Certs (CPL, IRA, ASEL, AMEL, CFI-A/I): Flight Experience (hours): 463.6 Total, 362.9 PIC, 66 Instrument, Night 28.9, XC 156.7, multi 25.7 Work Experience: Research publications (programming and data science), CFI experience, grader on campus Eagle Scout My motivations/goals/personal background: I would preferably like to live near a base in the Northeast USA, but not picky if it means flying a high performance jet. I am fine with Guard or Reserves (first contract I can hopefully get), as I would like to pursue a PhD once training and unit indoc is completed (can’t exactly do that while active duty for 10 years). Very strong academically, good study habits. Moderately fit (6’3” 173 lbs). 1.5 mile in 11:40 running 35 pushups in 1 min (training for OTS fitness tests), healthy lifestyle, 20/20 vision Overall I would like to serve 1st to give back to the USA, and advance science through my civilian job Would also consider Army WO position in the guard I have done a lot of research on the national guard (go to tours/rush events, send packets whenever they open, bring beer, etc.), so no questions there (I am aware how competitive it is which is why I would like to apply to reserves as well.) In regard to reserves, do you just talk to an officer recruiter and compete like the active duty folks? Is there less opportunity to get a fighter in the reserve? Are you able to request which part of the USA you would like to live? Deployment frequency vs National Guard? How is my overall competitiveness? If you would like to share your experiences of your paths to a seat it would be much appreciated. Thank you all very much for your time and for your public service. Sincerely, A prospective applicant.

His weaponized autism gets the best of him. He’s still the guy who’s selling beta full-self driving software on Teslas after years of it being in beta.

Completely agree. Also, IPT doesn't emphasize emergency procedures. Not to mention, UPT took out the T-1 syllabus. So students going T-6 direct to heavies will show up to FTU with limited exposure to how we do things in military aviation. Time will tell... Vance isn't doing IPT and at this moment there's been no words passed that they will. I don't know the class number but this was last week at Vance: T-1 class: even split of 17s and 135s, couple of C-130Hs for the guardies/reservists,1 or 2 C-130Js and 1 C-146 T-38 class: T-38 FAIP, T-6 FAIP, F-16, 2x F-35s, HC-130. A more encouraging drop for those hoping for fighters. We were told fighter slots are becoming increasingly rare

Sadly, too true.

Just a guess but as he is read in I think his opinions will shift a bit Our enemies still fly and are planning to fly manned aircraft well into the next 20+ years, that says something even a genius like him can hear Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Caveat up front: there are good/bad/disciplined/undisciplined pilots in every community and this is not geared toward any individual. But I'm gonna be the asshole here. In my experience, the army rotary wing community ranges anywhere from lackadaisical to outright dangerous WRT instrument procedures, airspace and traffic awareness, and flight discipline. I've witnessed a 5-ship Army Apache mission brief take place in the lobby of the San Angelo FBO that was basically: "Alright dudes, we're gonna take off, head east, 200A, everybody fall in. Questions?" "Sick. Step complete." I've been in control of a T-6 pattern full of solo students and had to send them all breakpoint straight through (half of them didn't even know what to do) because we had a 4 ship of army black hawks blast perpendicular through our pattern while talking to precisely no one on the radio. The second I saw the news out of DCA my first reaction was "goddammit some army rw clowns got everyone killed." Then I felt bad for jumping to conclusions and not waiting for the report. But after a few weeks, each new piece of data points right back to them and I'm back to being pissed. Why were they off altitude? Why are they dicking around at night in the approach corridor of a major airport? Why are they not on VHF? Why was this even an approved routing for them in the first place? Why were 28 different agencies permitted to fly helos in close proximity to DCA? These were not one-off, swiss-cheese-holes-aligning, mistakes. This was business as usual, proven by the fact there had been multiple near misses at DCA in the recent past including a helo-caused airliner go-around the day before. Obviously an airspace/procedure re-design is warranted, but I think we need to take a look at community-wide culture that was comfortable operating like this in the first place. @busdriver said it best that these procedures are "no-step stupid." The problem with that is if you've been raised in a community of hot dogging and "we'll do it live" you're probably not equipped to make a good risk assessment.

I haven't landed 15, but I have on 33 in the baby bus. Unless it's moist, or I'm in a 320 or 321, I will brief the possibility of a last minute runway change at DCA. It's basically to be expected, doubly so for those who fly an RJ. So while maybe causal, I wouldn't say the "circle" maneuver from runway 1 to 33 at DCA is that cosmic for those who fly in and out of DCA frequently. Just another hole in the Swiss cheese model though, sadly.

There's a really interesting article from last month published by AETC going into the new plans for IPT and UPT 3.0. Going into UPT with a multi-engine rating surely can't hurt, but time will tell as they get through the first few test groups. U.S. Air Force partners with academia, industry to test future pilot production model > Air Education and Training Command > Article Display

Gotcha, only reason I asked is because my buddy at Vance didn't act like they were switching anytime soon, but he could definitely be wrong, he's about to head to FTU.

This decision has sparked mass protests* from military families. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/hegseth-protest-dei-transgender-germany-military-rcna191636 * “about 2 dozen people”

Of all the things to be worked up about and speaking about TRUST...As a service member I would have thought you'd be more worked up about the previous guy who had checked out, had surgery and stayed at home for a week without telling POTUS or anyone in the National Command Authority.

🤣 🤣 🤣

OK, I lied...

So far, this is about the only criticism of the RJ crew that I can think of: accepting a change to the approach and runway that close in. In a fighter in VMC? Absolutely, no problem. But the latest that I've accepted a change to a landing runway in an airliner has been outside 10 miles and even that was pushing it. You can hardly call that causal, but it is something to think about and learn from as an airline pilot. Don't let ATC fly your plane. Had a captain tell ATC no to keeping us high and fast on an approach (my airplane does not like to slow down in any decent). He told them 'we can be high or fast, but not both'. ATC tried to shame us by then slowing us to approach speed and vectoring another flight in front of us and even made a comment to the other airplane about them being able to do it. Capt basically shrugged said 'whatever'.

Performance issues? It's not uncommon. 1 in 5 I'm told.

I agree that they (CRJ) should have cleared final prior to landing but I wouldn't label this as causal. There's a certain amount of trust I'd have on the tower not clearing me to land with potential conflict on final. They weren't landing to an uncontrolled airfield.

I can think of a place they might start. 28 agencies were authorized to fly helicopters near Reagan Airport before deadly crash

I think that's my third post recently where my sarcasm didn't come though.

you are a FREAK 😄

I’ve been out of the AETC IP game a few years now. Sad to read it’s only gotten worse. But for those who are new around here and don’t know the history…it began when Kwast and Wills forcefully gang-banged the UPT enterprise into a training program that has set us on a course to become a 3rd-rate Air Force for decades to come. Don’t know what Kwast is doing in his retirement, but Wills was just appointed senior VP at HTX Labs, which—you guessed it—oversees VR training/tech for military training applications.

Nothing, it’s just the leadership of the AF thinks they can min run this enterprise and get away with it We can not have the AF we say want with the resources Congress allocates, missions we are legally required to OT&E for with the way we operate now Something has to give or more money and the freedom to execute that money in the best way possible for the needs of the AF vs the needs of X defense prime or Congressmen or pilot hating shoe clerk Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Drop Night at Laughlin.

The standards I worked on. I was in Stan/Eval so standards were in there somewhere. If dude on the ground wanted a round of 105 he better get it. Right where and when he wanted it. And another If the gunners mustache was too long, I didn't give a shit. If the nav had the wrong color purse, I didn't give a shit. If the eng had his hat on backwards, I didn't give a shit. If the pilot had the wrong socks, I didn't give a shit.

I'll lead in with this: welcome to Baseops my sweet summer child...oh wait... WELCOME TO THUNDERDOME In general: in AMC, you remain in the airframe you were assigned initially. C-130 slick bubbas stay in C-130 slicks. (common misconception: C-130 slick dudes do not easily slide into the AC or MC-130 unless selected). C-17 guys stay in C-17s. 25% of that C-17 force is airdrop qual'd and you'll have to ask an airdrop guy what that's all about...not my world. In honesty, there a lot of sincerely and deeply experienced dudes on this board. The question you've asked has been addressed many...many...many...many.......maaaaany times, HOWEVER it may or may not have been addressed recently. The environment is changing rapidly with each UPT graduation. The short answer to your core question: "if I track C-X am I stuck in C-X" the answer is unknown. The real answer is that that the cross-flow program is highly active and highly political...and HIGHLY TIME SENSATIVE. If you fly transport (C-5/C-130), then the tradition crossflow wants to put you into a tanker (KC-135/KC-10/KC46)...and vs versa. That transfer is 100% dependent on luck and timing. I can't say anything at all about fighter to fighter transfers. I ain't gay, but those tubby bitches love the cock. Be the best you can at your job. When you're given a job (reads.airframe.you.didn't.want) continue to be the best at your job and you will have options. Succeed and you may find that you're airframe is actually what you wanted (often happens), or that it steppingstone you to where you needed to be.