Latest news with #RossAimer
Daily Mirror
13-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
'I flew Boeing planes for 40 years – the Air India crash was bound to happen'
Ross Aimer, a pilot for top airlines including United Airlines from 1964 to 2004, has said he is 'shocked' but 'not that surprised' that the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed A retired pilot who flew Boeing planes for 40 years says he's not surprised by the devastating Air India crash that killed all but one person on board. Harrowing footage shows the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner smashing into the ground before erupting into a fireball shortly after take-off. It was bound for Gatwick, London, after taking off in Ahmedabad, India, with 242 on board. One person, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, survived. Ross Aimer, a pilot for top airlines including United Airlines from 1964 to 2004, says he's not surprised by the crash given recent issues with the 787. Aimer said: "I'm shocked, but knowing some of the issues with the 787, I'm not that surprised. It was bound to happen. "It's way too early to speculate. There's no way we know enough to even think about what may have gone wrong, but I saw the initial video of the take-off. The aircraft was full of fuel and bound to Gatwick. It's a tragedy, but we have no idea what may have caused the airplane to crash. "Looks like the weather may not have been an issue because you probably saw the video, it's in clear skies. The only thing I could think of is possibly an engine failure, because the aircraft sinks on takeoff. It's at its highest gross weight at that time." It is the first crash involving the model since its introduction in 2011, but there have been issues that have forced some flights to be grounded. The US safety regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has had to investigate a number of concerns over the years, reports The Guardian. It also comes after Boeing was rocked by two crashes involving its 737 Max model in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019. Aimer, who lives in California, said he suspects authorities will be considering grounding the plane. He added: "It looks to me like that aircraft basically sank into the ground. I don't know about the flaps, but the 787 is perhaps the most advanced technology available at this moment. "Air India may have had the Rolls-Royce Trent engine option on it. There was some controversy on that engine itself. It's called the Trent engine, and it had been grounded for a while. "It had issues with corrosion and cracks within the engine. So it's not only the aircraft itself, it's a possibility that there was an engine issue too. I'm sure the authorities will look into this. In the past we've had engines and aircraft grounded, and I'm sure if they find out that there are any issues to be looked at, they will think about grounding the airplane." Authorities said there were 159 Indian nationals on the plane, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. It is reported the only remaining survivor was a British man. Astonishing footage shows one man walking away from the wreckage before being pictured on a hospital bed. Asked what would be going through his mind if he was still an active pilot, Aimer said: "Like any pilot with some experience would do, I'd be extremely cautious. But that's a normal way till we find out what exactly happened. To make a blanket statement that the aircraft is not safe would be irresponsible. "But I'm not surprised, because we know there were a lot of problems with this aircraft, and they continue to have issues with manufacturing." He added: "I'm afraid so (people may lose confidence in aviation). I don't blame people being leery about aviation after all these crashes that are happening."
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
An air traffic controller at Newark is like ‘a 3D chess player who can juggle a chainsaw' with their eyes closed, ex-pilot says
A former United Airlines pilot said Newark air traffic controllers already had a tough enough job prior to the recent system outage. Some air traffic controllers involved in the Newark airport system chaos opted for a 45-day 'trauma leave" adding to an already vacant profession. Despite the system outage at Newark Liberty International Airport that has delayed flights into this week, air traffic controllers tasked with airport's logistics already have a ridiculously hard job, a former United Airlines pilot said. 'I equate a good, A-level, traffic controller that can handle a place like Newark, JFK, LAX, San Francisco, to a three dimensional chess player who can juggle a chainsaw, an axe, a sword, a razor blade with his eyes closed,' Aero Consulting Experts CEO and a former United pilot Ross Aimer told Fortune. Last week, air traffic controllers in the Philadelphia TRACON (PHL) tasked with oversight into the logistics of arrival and departure flights at the Newark Liberty International Airport 'temporarily lost radar and communications with the aircraft under their control, unable to see, hear, or talk to them,' the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) told Quartz. The incident came after an American Airlines flight collided with a U.S. Army Blackhawk Helicopter over the Potomac killing everyone on board and adding further scrutiny to the Federal Aviation Administrations and its 50-year-old technology. While there were no accidents as a result of the outage at Newark, the 60- to 90-second darkness 'was the most dangerous situation you could have,' an on duty air traffic controller told CNN. Following the outage, some employees 'who work Newark arrivals and departures have taken time off to recover from the stress of multiple recent outages,' the Federal Aviation Administration posted on X. Under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act, air traffic controllers are allowed to take a 45-day 'trauma leave' after a stressful event. A supervisor, three controllers, and a trainee were among those who took the 45-day leave, another air traffic controller told CNN. 'While we cannot replace them due to this highly specialized profession, we continue to train controllers who will eventually be assigned to this busy airspace,' the Federal Aviation Administration posted on X. The ranks of qualified air traffic controllers are sparse. In January, NATCA President Nick Daniels said in an interview with CBS News that there are 10,800 air traffic controllers, but the number should be 14,335. Additionally, more than 90% of the nation's air traffic control facilities fall below the recommended staffing levels, The New York Times reported. NATCA did not return Fortune's request for comment. 'It takes a long time to train [an] air traffic controller,' Aimer said. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website, entry-level applicants must 'spend several months' completing training courses at the agency's academy before gaining two to three years of classroom and hands-on experience. 'A lot of these guys, they burn out,' Aimer said. 'They can't finish the training, which is very grueling,' Due to the staffing shortage in Newark, United Airlines pulled 35 round-trip flights to the airport. 'Keep in mind, this particular air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years and without these controllers, it's now clear — and the FAA tells us — that Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead,' United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said in a statement. Currently the Philadelphia-based tower in charge of Newark has '22 fully certified controllers and 21 controllers and supervisors in training,' according to an FAA statement obtained by Fortune. 'We have a healthy pipeline with training classes filled through July 2026,' The FAA wrote. This story was originally featured on
South China Morning Post
31-01-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Disaster waiting to happen? Pilots have long worried about DC's complex airspace
The airspace around Washington DC is congested and complex – a combination aviation experts have long worried could lead to catastrophe. Even in peak flying conditions, experts said, the airspace around Reagan Washington National Airport can challenge the most experienced pilots, who must navigate hundreds of other commercial planes, military aircraft and restricted areas around sensitive sites. 'This was a disaster waiting to happen,' said Ross Aimer, a retired United Airlines captain and chief executive officer of Aero Consulting Experts. 'Those of us who have been around a long time have been yelling into a vacuum that something like this would happen because our systems are stretched to extremes.' There was no immediate word on the cause of the collision, but officials said flight conditions were clear as the jet arrived from Wichita, Kansas. A satellite image of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and crash recovery operations. Photo: Maxar Technologies via Reuters Investigators have already begun examining every aspect of the crash, including questions about why the US Army Black Hawk helicopter was 100 feet (about 30 metres) above its permitted altitude and whether the air traffic control tower was properly staffed.
Chicago Tribune
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Pilots have long worried about DC's complex airspace contributing to a catastrophe
WASHINGTON — The airspace around Washington, D.C., is congested and complex — a combination aviation experts have long worried could lead to catastrophe. Those fears materialized Wednesday night when an American Airlines plane collided with a military helicopter, taking the lives of 67 people, including three soldiers and more than a dozen figure skaters. Even in peak flying conditions, experts said, the airspace around Reagan Washington National Airport can challenge the most experienced pilots, who must navigate hundreds of other commercial planes, military aircraft and restricted areas around sensitive sites. 'This was a disaster waiting to happen,' said Ross Aimer, a retired United Airlines captain and chief executive officer of Aero Consulting Experts. 'Those of us who have been around a long time have been yelling into a vacuum that something like this would happen because our systems are stretched to extremes.' There was no immediate word on the cause of the collision, but officials said flight conditions were clear as the jet arrived from Wichita, Kansas. Investigators have already begun examining every aspect of the crash, including questions about why the Army Black Hawk helicopter was 100 feet above its permitted altitude and whether the air traffic control tower was properly staffed. A Federal Aviation Administration report obtained by The Associated Press described staffing levels as 'not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic.' As authorities piece together the nation's deadliest U.S. airline crash since 2001, the tragedy has raised new concerns about the specific dangers at Reagan National, which has seen a series of near-misses in recent years. Experts and some lawmakers said they are concerned that the airspace is about to get more congested in the wake of Congress' decision last year to ease restrictions that had limited the airport to nonstop flights within 1,250 miles of Washington, with few exceptions. Lawmakers enabled airlines to launch new routes to destinations like Seattle and San Francisco. The plan fueled intense debate about congestion versus convenience, with some legislators heralding new flights to their home states while others warned of potential tragedy. The flight that crashed Wednesday was not part of the expansion. It was added by American Airlines in January of last year amid a push by Kansas lawmakers for more service between Reagan National and Wichita. Airliners and helicopters in close proximity Commercial aircraft flying in and out of Reagan National have long had to contend with military helicopters traversing the same airspace within at-times startling proximity. 'Even if everybody is doing what they're supposed to be doing, you've only got a few hundred feet separation between aircraft coming in to land and the many helicopters along that route,' said Jim Brauchle, a former U.S. Air Force navigator and aviation attorney. 'It doesn't leave a whole lot margin of error.' Pilots have long warned of a 'nightmare scenario' near the airport with commercial jetliners and military helicopters crossing paths, especially at night when the bright lights of the city can make seeing oncoming aircraft more difficult. Retired U.S. Army National Guard pilot Darrell Feller said the deadly collision reminded him of a near-miss he experienced a decade ago when he was flying a military helicopter south along the Potomac River near Reagan National. An air traffic controller advised him to be on the lookout for a jetliner landing on Runway 3-3, an approach that requires planes to fly directly over the route used by military and law enforcement helicopters transiting the nation's capital. Not always easy to spot airliners Feller was unable to pick out the oncoming jetliner against the lights of the city and cars on a nearby bridge. He immediately descended, skimming just 50 feet over the water to ensure the descending jetliner would pass over him. 'I could not see him. I lost him in the city lights,' Feller, who retired from the Army in 2014, recounted Thursday. 'It did scare me.' Feller's experience was eerily similar to what experts said may have happed with the crew of the Army helicopter Wednesday shortly before 9 p.m. as they flew south along the Potomac and collided with an American Airlines Flight 5342 landing at Runway 3-3. As the American Airlines jet approached the airport, air traffic controllers asked its pilots if they could land on Runway 3-3 rather than the longer — and busier — north-south runway. The jet's pilots altered their approach, heading over the east bank of the Potomac before heading back over the river to land on 3-3. Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the Army helicopter if it had the American Airlines plane in sight, and the military pilot responded that he did. The controller then instructed the Black Hawk to pass behind the jet. Seconds after that last transmission, the two aircraft collided in a fireball. Feller, who served as an instructor pilot for the D.C. National Guard, said he had several rules for new pilots to avoid such collisions. He warned them to stay below the mandated 200-foot ceiling for helicopters. And he urged them to be on guard for planes landing on 3-3 because they could be difficult to spot. Those planes' 'landing lights are not pointed directly at you,' Feller said, adding that those lights also get 'mixed up with ground lights, with cars.' Not the first such deadly crash Wednesday's crash was reminiscent of a deadly collision in 1949, when Washington's airspace was considerably less crowded. A passenger plane on final approach to what is now Reagan Airport collided with a military plane, plunging both aircraft to the Potomac River and killing 55 people. At the time, it was the deadliest air crash in the U.S. Jack Schonely, a retired Los Angeles Police Department helicopter pilot, said he's been a passenger on helicopter rides through D.C. and was always struck by how complicated it seems for the pilots. 'You've got two large airports. You've got multiple restricted areas. You've got altitude restrictions. Routine restrictions, and a lot of air traffic,' he said. 'There's a lot going on in a tight area.' Robert Clifford, an aviation attorney, said the U.S. government should temporarily halt military helicopter flights in the airspace used by commercial airlines near Reagan National. 'I can't get over how stunningly clear it is that this was a preventable crash and this should never, ever have occurred,' Clifford said. 'There have been discussions for some time about the congestion associated with that and the potential for disaster. And we saw it come home last night.' Foley reported from Iowa City, Iowa. Associated Press journalists Michael R. Sisak and Joseph Frederick in New York, Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, and Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report. Originally Published:
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pilots have long worried about DC's complex airspace contributing to a catastrophe
WASHINGTON (AP) — The airspace around Washington, D.C., is congested and complex — a combination aviation experts have long worried could lead to catastrophe. Those fears materialized Wednesday night when an American Airlines plane collided with a military helicopter, taking the lives of 67 people, including three soldiers and more than a dozen figure skaters. Even in peak flying conditions, experts said, the airspace around Reagan Washington National Airport can challenge the most experienced pilots, who must navigate hundreds of other commercial planes, military aircraft and restricted areas around sensitive sites. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'This was a disaster waiting to happen,' said Ross Aimer, a retired United Airlines captain and chief executive officer of Aero Consulting Experts. 'Those of us who have been around a long time have been yelling into a vacuum that something like this would happen because our systems are stretched to extremes." There was no immediate word on the cause of the collision, but officials said flight conditions were clear as the jet arrived from Wichita, Kansas. Investigators have already begun examining every aspect of the crash, including questions about why the Army Black Hawk helicopter was 100 feet above its permitted altitude and whether the air traffic control tower was properly staffed. A Federal Aviation Administration report obtained by The Associated Press described staffing levels as 'not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic.' As authorities piece together the nation's deadliest U.S. airline crash since 2001, the tragedy has raised new concerns about the specific dangers at Reagan National, which has seen a series of near-misses in recent years. Experts and some lawmakers said they are concerned that the airspace is about to get more congested in the wake of Congress' decision last year to ease restrictions that had limited the airport to nonstop flights within 1,250 miles (2,012 kilometers) of Washington, with few exceptions. Lawmakers enabled airlines to launch new routes to destinations like Seattle and San Francisco. The plan fueled intense debate about congestion versus convenience, with some legislators heralding new flights to their home states while others warned of potential tragedy. The flight that crashed Wednesday was not part of the expansion. It was added by American Airlines in January of last year amid a push by Kansas lawmakers for more service between Reagan National and Wichita. Airliners and helicopters in close proximity Commercial aircraft flying in and out of Reagan National have long had to contend with military helicopters traversing the same airspace within at-times startling proximity. 'Even if everybody is doing what they're supposed to be doing, you've only got a few hundred feet separation between aircraft coming in to land and the many helicopters along that route,' said Jim Brauchle, a former U.S. Air Force navigator and aviation attorney. "It doesn't leave a whole lot margin of error.' Pilots have long warned of a 'nightmare scenario' near the airport with commercial jetliners and military helicopters crossing paths, especially at night when the bright lights of the city can make seeing oncoming aircraft more difficult. Retired U.S. Army National Guard pilot Darrell Feller said the deadly collision reminded him of an incident he experienced a decade ago when he was flying a military helicopter south along the Potomac River near Reagan National. An air traffic controller advised him to be on the lookout for a jetliner landing on Runway 3-3, an approach that requires planes to fly directly over the route used by military and law enforcement helicopters transiting the nation's capital. Not always easy to spot airliners Feller was unable to pick out the oncoming jetliner against the lights of the city and cars on a nearby bridge. He immediately descended, skimming just 50 feet over the water to ensure the descending jetliner would pass over him. 'I could not see him. I lost him in the city lights,' Feller, who retired from the Army in 2014, recounted Thursday. 'It did scare me.' Feller's experience was eerily similar to what experts said may have happed with the crew of the Army helicopter Wednesday shortly before 9 p.m. as they flew south along the Potomac and collided with an American Airlines Flight 5342 landing at Runway 3-3. As the American Airlines jet approached the airport, air traffic controllers asked its pilots if they could land on Runway 3-3 rather than the longer — and busier — north-south runway. The jet's pilots altered their approach, heading over the east bank of the Potomac before heading back over the river to land on 3-3. Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the Army helicopter if it had the American Airlines plane in sight, and the military pilot responded that he did. The controller then instructed the Black Hawk to pass behind the jet. Seconds after that last transmission, the two aircraft collided in a fireball. Feller, who served as an instructor pilot for the D.C. National Guard, said he had several rules for new pilots to avoid such collisions. He warned them to stay below the mandated 200-foot ceiling for helicopters. And he urged them to be on guard for planes landing on 3-3 because they could be difficult to spot. Those planes' "landing lights are not pointed directly at you,' Feller said, adding that those lights also get 'mixed up with ground lights, with cars.' Not the first such deadly crash Wednesday's crash was reminiscent of a deadly collision in 1949, when Washington's airspace was considerably less crowded. A passenger plane on final approach to what is now Reagan Airport collided with a military plane, plunging both aircraft to the Potomac River and killing 55 people. At the time, it was the deadliest air crash in the U.S. Jack Schonely, a retired Los Angeles Police Department helicopter pilot, said he's been a passenger on helicopter rides through D.C. and was always struck by how complicated it seems for the pilots. 'You've got two large airports. You've got multiple restricted areas. You've got altitude restrictions. Routine restrictions, and a lot of air traffic,' he said. 'There's a lot going on in a tight area.' Robert Clifford, an aviation attorney, said the U.S. government should temporarily halt military helicopter flights in the airspace used by commercial airlines near Reagan National. 'I can't get over how stunningly clear it is that this was a preventable crash and this should never, ever have occurred,' Clifford said. 'There have been discussions for some time about the congestion associated with that and the potential for disaster. And we saw it come home last night.' __ Foley reported from Iowa City, Iowa. Associated Press journalists Michael R. Sisak and Joseph Frederick in New York, Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, and Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report.
