Air Traffic Controller 'Left Shift Early' Before American Airlines Disaster

[naomi24]

//An air traffic controller was given the job of two people after one worker clocked off early on the evening the American Airlines jet and U.S. military helicopter collided in Washington, DC, according to a report.

 

Airplane and helicopter traffic is normally handled by two separate controllers until 9:30 p.m., but a supervisor allegedly merged the two jobs before the allotted changeover time, a source told The New York Times. A preliminary Federal Aviation Administration report concluded that staffing levels were “not normal” at the time.///

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/plane-crash-washington-dc-cockpit-recording-latest-updates-b2689658.html

[Khandro]

It has now been disclosed that the trainee pilot was a woman. Why would a woman want to fly helicopters ?

Subsequent question: Why are there no women Formula 1 drivers? 

[Old_Geezer]

Why wouldn't they ?

[Old_Geezer]

The system needs to ensure that when visual contact has been claimed both lots know it is the right visual contact. Handing over responsibility to someone thinking they see what the danger is, clearly doesn't work sufficiently well.

[davebro3]

Apparently the helicopter was flying 200ft above it's permitted ceiling - should that not have been seen and a correction ordered by the ATC before the proximity alert?

[vulcan42]

If the helicoptor pilot was female why do we hear a man acknowledge they have the other aircraft in sight? The pilot is the person to acknowledge what they can or cannot see, not another member of the crew.

[davebro3]

I read she was on the flight - not sure about her being the pilot.

[Khandro]

She was named with pictures of her yesterday, as her family wished. Can't remember where, should be easy to find.

[Khandro]

This isn't the one I saw but will do;

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/31/us/dc-plane-crash-victims/index.html

[davebro3]

//The female Black Hawk pilot who was co-piloting the aircraft//

[sandyRoe]

Is the one who left early set to carry the can?

[davebro3]

only if he/she broke the rules by doing si I suppose...

[Khandro]

dave ////The female Black Hawk pilot who was co-piloting the aircraft//

 But who had the controls at the time? The instructor, I read, had 1,000 hours of flying experience. 

[chelle7272]

// Why would a woman want to fly helicopters ?// Why not? I would have loved to be a helicopter pilot, it is hat i told my careers advisor at school.

Subsequent question: Why are there no women Formula 1 drivers? Plenty of women racing cars just not at that level. Possiblt prejudice, lack of opportunity, sponsorship, etc.

[barry1010]

Maria Teresa De Fillippis raced Formula 1

[douglas9401]

That'll be 'a woman' rather than 'women' though.

[Khandro]

barry //Maria Teresa De Fillippis raced Formula 1//

Never heard of her, How did she do ?

[douglas9401]

Maria Teresa de Filippis was an Italian racing driver, and the first woman to race in Formula One. She participated in five World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 18 May 1958, but scored no championship points. Wikipedia

[THECORBYLOON]

Apologies for contributing toward the distraction of the thread.

 

[Deskdiary]

Put simply, women just aren't good enough for F1. I know that may upset some people, but if they were good enough they would be in F1.

 

The last woman to 'compete' in F1 was Giovanna Amata for Brabham in 1992, in which she had tried three times to qualify and failed each time before she was sacked. In one she was 10 seconds behind the pole-sitter Mansell - doesn't sound like a lot but 10 seconds in F1 in qualifying is massive.

 

I've heard Susie Wolff be described as an ex-F1 driver, however the reality is all she ever did was drive a Williams in free practice in 2014.