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0 pointsalistairSH1y ago0 comments

I'm pretty sure "training flight" in this context simply means they weren't actively carrying passengers. And it's not indicative of a junior or unqualified pilot (doesn't rule it out, just can't infer much from the phrase in this context).

At the extreme, fighter pilots fly almost exclusively training flights because we're not actively waging war at the moment.

There are a few military bases in the area - Belvior (Army), Quantico (USMC), Andrews (USAF), Pentagon, and some smaller ones (some of which have helipads, but no helicopters on station). And lots of shuttling of DoD and other government VIPs from location to location across the DC metro area.

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warner251y ago

Yes, the public needs to understand this. That unit's [1] task is to provide transportation to senior government officials and security forces around the capital, including to and from that airport. If they didn't train to operate there, then their first time doing so would be with someone like the Secretary of Defense onboard or during some other mission that's critical to national security.

And the aviators assigned to that unit are typically more senior people who've already done a tour or two with more conventional units. Source: I'm a career Army officer and former Black Hawk pilot.

[1] https://jtfncr.mdw.army.mil/TAAB/

alistairSHOP1y ago

So, Hegseth indicated the Army helicopter was using night vision… would that be normal when flying in a dense urban airspace?

defrost1y ago

It'd be normal to have night vision to hand for either a training mission or for a secure VIP transport mission.

It's unclear whether they were being used at the time of the crash, but it'd be part of training.

The reporting to hand ATM makes statements such as:

  Earlier in the day, Mr. Hegseth said the crew had night vision goggles. However, it was unclear whether the crew was wearing the goggles at the time of the crash, Army officials said.

~ https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/us/politics/army-helicopt...

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