The airspace in the area is complex, so it's a challenge to provide useful helicopter routes while reducing potential conflict.
My understanding of why (and also why we're cleared _direct_ a lot of times) is that we move a lot slower than planes, and that ends up being dangerous in its own right in a pattern shared with planes!
Which is why it will not close. It's easier for Congress members, senior staff, etc. to use rather than the drive out to Dulles of BWI. It's convenient for powerful people.
Permanent suspension would likely be an overcorrection. Indefinite suspension while reviewing the routes and options seems reasonable.
Take a few days or weeks to figure out what the new rule should be, and then move to that.
> 6.3.1.5 When an RA is issued, pilots are expected to respond immediately to the RA unless doing so would jeopardize the safe operation of the flight. This means that aircraft will at times manoeuvre contrary to ATC instructions or disregard ATC instructions.
Such unsafe habits (like driving without a seatbelt on) statistically will eventually result in a tragic outcome.
>The entire thing looks and sounds like an uncontrolled VFR airfield in the middle of summer. And yet it's supposed to be the absolute opposite
Having worked at one such establishment for several years I only witnessed one close call and it involved the state police helicopter doing what they wanted with no regard for other traffic.
Would you say that there is a relative shortage of airports in the US´with regard to the aggregate (civilian and military) demand?
PS reportedly the helicopter crew were wearing night vision goggles that might restrict their peripheral vision or make it harder to distinguish really bright landing lights on the plane from normal bright lights.
