Airline Pilot Forums

Watched the former Congressman from IL make a fool out of himself on NBC national news tonight calling two jets separated by less than a mile laterally and 800' vertically not a near miss.

This guy and needs to go ..he is an embarrasment. Political hacks in charge of the National Transportation systems.....NTSB chairman might have something to say about this buffoon's comments. How about the definition of a "near miss" Mr Secretary.

Near miss...oh ya. Right over the Potomac N. of DCA....wow that would be a good one to explain if a fatal accident..lots of high value real estate in the flight path going S. along the river on the River visual. 1 jet landing S. while two cleared to TO to the N...sounds like a accident waiting to happen.

Kudos to ATC for averting a disaster and loss of 190 souls needlessly.

SEC DOT ....go home to IL...please and find some adult leadership for the Department.....WH are you listening ?????

My 2 cents...flown the visual to DCA many times....so I know the neighborhood.

BJD

How about the definition of a "near miss" Mr Secretary.

Sitting next to Kristen Stewart? :)

Listen to the guy talk - he's a moron. The main qualification for most cabinet positions these days is shutting up and doing as you're told. His job here is to get this off the front page quickly. "Hey, it wasn't really a problem, and we're on top it it!" Yeah, right.

Technically he is right.. The FAA constitutes a near mid-air collision as separation of less than 500 feet. However I still feel 800 feet is too close for airliners and would consider it.

Technically he is right.. The FAA constitutes a near mid-air collision as separation of less than 500 feet. However I still feel 800 feet is too close for airliners and would consider it.
800' and 1 nm.
The problem here was the lack of communication that led to the incident in the first place.

USMCFLYR

Surely, Ray LaHood being a world-class clueless idiot is NOT news!

GF