Stray Plane Forces Capitol Evacuation (AGAIN)

[Dont Hurt Me]

You guys think this is something it is nothing!

Look back into the 50s there were things flying through the airspace of the Capital but they werent Cessna's nor Migs. Thats a fact but good old govt doesnt say much about that now do they. They scrambled fighters at these objects that they saw on Radar and they were seen by the tower. Later it was spun into horny chickens or something stupid.

 

[cr2sh]

You guys think this is something it is nothing!

Look back into the 50s there were things flying through the airspace of the Capital but they werent Cessna's nor Migs. Thats a fact but good old govt doesnt say much about that now do they. They scrambled fighters at these objects that they saw on Radar and they were seen by the tower. Later it was spun into horny chickens or something stupid.

Are you drunk?

Your two comments in this thread have been completelly off the wall...

Didn't check weather or notams before they took off? The teacher deserves what he gets... great lesson for a new pilot.

 

[broken_keyboard]

With all the modern technology these days, how could the pilot not know where he is?

 

[MongoTheGeek]

With all the modern technology these days, how could the pilot not know where he is?

He's using VFR. Visual Flight Rules. He looks down and says , Gee, this looks like New Jersey. Usually it involves following roads and rivers.

 

[Apple Hobo]

I prefer "private" to "small time" pilot, thank you

I didn't mean for that to come out in a negative way. I have a fair share of hours in the left seat of a C-172.


Anyway, I do remember that VFR-only "lock down" in my area after 9/11. I flew out of Miami Kendall-Tamiami Executive (KTMB, Class D), which was under a shelf of Miami International's Class B. I still remember that dumbass "enhanced" Class B crap that I had to deal with for quite some time. I also remember how I couldn't go into the Miami FSS after 9/11. Don't even get me started on that post 9/11 media blitz against general aviation.

 

[IJ Reilly]

He's using VFR. Visual Flight Rules. He looks down and says , Gee, this looks like New Jersey. Usually it involves following roads and rivers.

That's kind of an old joke ("I'm IFR -- I Follow Roads."), but it isn't entirely true any longer. Navigating by ground reference is only one of three classic methods of flying VFR, and in addition, nearly everybody has a GPS on board these days, even if it's not certified for navigation. (This particular airplane was without a doubt equipped with a panel-mounted IFR certified GPS.) Either way, getting lost in the air these days is a virtual impossibility.

What went wrong here is almost impossible to determine from the information in the article. Somebody commented that he was off altitude. Well, the ceiling on the ADIZ and the restricted airspace over DC is 18,000 feet, so it's basically not possible for a pilot to think he's at 18,000 feet plus and be VFR, because this is an IFR altitude by definition. People on the ground said they heard the airplane, which you're not going to do if it's over 10,000 feet.

So what I've read so far about this incident just doesn't make much sense. The press often gets aviation stories wrong, so I'm not surprised.

 

[cr2sh]

That's kind of an old joke ("I'm IFR -- I Follow Roads."), but it isn't entirely true any longer. Navigating by ground reference is only one of three classic methods of flying VFR, and in addition, nearly everybody has a GPS on board these days, even if it's not certified for navigation. (This particular airplane was without a doubt equipped with a panel-mounted IFR certified GPS.) Either way, getting lost in the air these days is a virtual impossibility.

IJ, off topic question.. you happen to know a good online source for descriptions of what NAVAIDS do what.. VOR, DME, localizer.. and such?

 

[IJ Reilly]

IJ, off topic question.. you happen to know a good online source for descriptions of what NAVAIDS do what.. VOR, DME, localizer.. and such?

The AIM (Aeronautical Information Manual) from the FAA is a little on the technical side, but provides the basic information.

http://www.faa.gov/ATpubs/AIM/index.htm

Other publications from the FAA and elsewhere might put it in friendlier terms.

 

[Mr. Durden]

You mean twice, in total? The Washington ADIZ and restricted airspace has been in place for nearly four years now. I don't think two incidents of this kind is such a terrible record, or that two incidents over a period of as many months indicates a developing trend of some kind.

Incidentally, I've been looking for another story on this incident but can't seem to find one. I'm still trying to figure out what this pilot did.

I guess thats my mistake. It sure seems more like 3 times this has happened recently. I must be mistaken, since your in the know about these things.

 

[IJ Reilly]

I guess thats my mistake. It sure seems more like 3 times this has happened recently. I must be mistaken, since your in the know about these things.

The ADIZ has been violated numerous times I'm sure, but it is a much larger area than the restricted airspace around central DC, and ADIZ violations don't trigger evacuations of government buildings. That's only happened twice to my knowledge.

 

[iMeowbot]

It's the third evacuation. The other time was when the Kentucky governor was being flown in for Reagan's funeral. The plane was authorized to be there, but its transponder was broken.

 

[IJ Reilly]

It's the third evacuation. The other time was when the Kentucky governor was being flown in for Reagan's funeral. The plane was authorized to be there, but its transponder was broken.

I stand corrected!

Though, technically, in that case it wasn't a violation of the airspace that caused the evacuation.