US NTSB to probe Wednesday's near-miss between planes at Washington airport

[sl8]

Last edited Sat Jun 1, 2024, 07:18 AM - Edit history (1)

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-ntsb-probe-wednesdays-near-miss-between-planes-washington-airport-2024-05-31/

US NTSB to probe Wednesday's near-miss between planes at Washington airport

By David Shepardson
May 31, 2024 5:54 PM EDT Updated 13 hours ago

WASHINGTON, May 31 (Reuters) - The National Transportation Safety Board said on Friday it will open an investigation into a near-collision earlier this week between an American Airlines (AAL.O), jet and a small airplane at Reagan Washington National Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration said earlier that an air traffic controller on Wednesday had canceled takeoff clearance for American Airlines (AAL.O), Flight 2134 - an Airbus A319 - because a Hawker Beechcraft Super King Air was cleared to land on an intersecting runway at the airport. Reagan has the busiest runway in the nation.

[...]

The NTSB has opened investigations into more than a half dozen near-miss incidents since January 2023 that raised concerns about U.S. aviation safety and the strain on understaffed air traffic control.

A persistent shortage of controllers has delayed flights and raised safety concerns. At many facilities, controllers are working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks to cover staffing shortages. The FAA wants $43 million to accelerate hiring and training of controllers and has sought to impose new rest requirements.

[...]

[AllyCat]

1. Looks like Raygun decimating PATCO might have been a bad idea

Worse pay, longer hours, no work protections are apparently bad for passenger safety.

Who knew?

[IronLionZion]

4. NATCA still exists as the successor to PATCO

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Air_Traffic_Controllers_Association

Staffing shortages continue to be a problem. They're not making it worthwhile for new people to enter the field. There are many less stressful options that pay better.

On a related note, Senator Tom Cotton claimed one of the reasons the military has a hard time recruiting people now during Biden's strong economy is there are less dangerous jobs that pay better.

[OldBaldy1701E]

2. Umm... aren't most airports 'private property'?

And if they are, why are we wailing about a lack of competent people? We need to wail about the owners and their cronies... they are the bottleneck here, since they won't come off a penny to improve their airport's safety.

When one's business is stumbling, one doesn't get to drive one's Bentley from the mansion to pick up that bailout check...

Oh wait, what am I saying... this is America.

[IronLionZion]

3. The federal government owns National Airport and Dulles Airport

most airports are owned by city or state governments. BWI is owned and operated by the state of Maryland for example.

[msongs]

5. actually that is a "near hit". bad reuters writing lol nt