Crash at Reagan National Airport, DC. Small aircraft down in the Potomac.

[luvflyin]

How long between hiring and actually acting as a controller? I honestly don’t know.

Acting as a controller can vary a lot depending on previous experience and complexity of facility. I have never seen it, and I’ve seen a lot, be more than a year. Now becoming an FPL, full performance level, can be long time, like more than 3 years at Centers.

 

[dmspilot]

Factored landing distance is a 121 reg (121.195) and it's for planning purposes only.

We discussed 121.195 at length. The post you quoted was not about 121.195.

 

[Flymy47]

I had an up close encounter Friday at about 1445 ~E/NE of Outlaw Field with a flight of two Blackhawks. They weren't squawking ADSB as far as I can tell and I didn't see them with ADSB/IN or on ADS-B Exchange when reviewing my flight

I'm confident they would have been talking with Ft Campbell Approach and I have ADSB out. Why they were allowed to come so close to me is a mystery. I made what I call an evasive maneuver to avoid a very close encounter or worse.

Of course I thought of this incident in DC where the chopper apparently wasn't squawking ADSB either.

A lot of times they don't use Campbell Approach and utilize the Campbell route structure for recovery into the KHOP. I wouldn't expect to see a lot of Army helo traffic on ADS-B. You're better off monitoring or talking to Tower and/or Approach.

Be safe out there, and see ya in the AO!

 

[Warmi]

….. I wouldn't expect to see a lot of Army helo traffic on ADS-B. You're better off monitoring or talking to Tower and/or Approach.
Be safe out there, and see ya in the AO!

Why is that ? Is it because of some kind of policy ( obviously we are not talking here warzone deployments) or just never got around installing ADS-B on their helos ?

 

[mark.staggs]

This profession will be a prime candidate for AI taking over … practically tailor made for this sort of repetitive but “ never have a bad day and never make a mistake” workflow.

LMAO! This shows a fundamental lack of understanding of two topics. What we call AI today is more A than I. They're built on LLM and would be terrible for any type of creative role requiring dynamic, outside-the-box thinking like ATC has to do often.

Obligatory XKCD: https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/machine_learning_2x.png

 

[Warmi]

LMAO! This shows a fundamental lack of understanding of two topics. What we call AI today is more A than I. They're built on LLM and would be terrible for any type of creative role requiring dynamic, outside-the-box thinking like ATC has to do often.

Obligatory XKCD: https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/machine_learning_2x.png

Really ?
We are build on LLM like information acquisition and retrieval too and 99% of what we do is recalling and applying existing (or parallel ) patterns that we have seen before ( it is generally referred to as being experienced and “ having seen it all”)
You are overestimating human creativity as very few people engage in truly “outside of the box” thinking and come up with completely new stuff and these that actually do we tend to refer to as geniuses - everything’s else is just recalling and applying patterns.

 

[mark.staggs]

Really ?
We are build on LLM like information acquisition and retrieval too and 99% of what we do is recalling and applying existing (or parallel ) patterns that we have seen before ( it is generally referred to as being experienced and “ having seen it all”)
You are overestimating human creativity as very few people engage in truly “outside of the box” thinking and come up with completely new stuff and these that actually do we tend to refer to as geniuses - everything’s else is just recalling and applying patterns.

I agree with pretty much everything you said. Except for applying it to ATC. I'll let them speak for themselves, but I don't imagine much of even the "mundane" things they do other than maybe issuing IFR clearances are always the same. Between weather, stupid pilot tricks, dynamic traffic levels, etc. I can't imagine any AI tech we currently have handling that very well unless we move to a point where there's no part 91 traffic and everything is HEAVILY metered.

 

[Lawson_Stone]

Start with the JO7110.65AA and associated notices. The pdf is 794 pages.

Then you have to memorize the airspace over which you will have control. All navaids, airway radials, procedures, etc.

Then you have the applicable letters of agreement, coordination protocols specific to your airspace, etc.

Then you need experience in evaluating the traffic situation, formulating a plan, and implementing it. That takes a lot of practice.

It takes several years from hire to reaching full qualification at your facility. Washout rates are high.

I live near KLEX in Lexington Ky. I'm acquainted with one of the controllers there. After the take-off accident several years ago leading to a fatal crash of an airliner, I saw firsthand the devastating effects such an accident has on the ATC community. Our church actually implemented a 2+ years free counseling program for any who wanted it, and many availed themselves of it. But obviously for some people, that kind of heartbreak is the end of their career in ATC. these folks not only need to be smart, resourceful, and cool under fire, they also need the emotional reserves and support in dealing with potential tragedy that might meet them on any given day at work.