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#91

Other Tulsa Discussion / Re: Another Police Helicopter

Last post by dbacksfan 2.0 - February 06, 2025, 08:57:33 PM

Interesting, this was pushed forward by a Navy pilot, Arizona Senator John McCain. So this was tucked into a bigger defense spending bill that was signed into law, HR 5515.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text

The FAA's action follows congressional direction included in the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which prevents the Department of Transportation from requiring the installation of ADS-B equipment on Department of Defense (DoD) aircraft, including fighters, bombers or other special mission aircraft. In the legislation, Congress also mandated the continued provision of air traffic services and continued access for DoD aircraft not equipped with ADS-B.

"We appreciate the special needs of the U.S. military and their support aircraft in conducting sensitive operations that require additional privacy and security considerations," said Doug Carr, NBAA vice president for regulatory and international affairs. "It's important for NBAA members to know that aircraft affected by this interim final rule will retain an alternate transponder capability, ensuring that aircraft safety systems, such as TCAS, will continue to function properly," Carr continued.

https://nbaa.org/aircraft-operations/communications-navigation-surveillance-cns/ads-b/faa-permits-ads-b-off-military-sensitive-flights/

#92

Other Tulsa Discussion / Re: Another Police Helicopter

Last post by patric - February 06, 2025, 03:19:20 PM

WASHINGTON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - A key safety system was turned off on a U.S. Army helicopter that collided with an American Airlines (AAL.O) regional jet last week near Washington Reagan Airport, killing 67.Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz told reporters the Black Hawk helicopter had turned off its automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), which is permitted for military aircraft.
"This was a training mission, so there was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off," Cruz said after a briefing from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration.

In the deadliest U.S. air disaster in more than 20 years, the aircraft collided last week, with both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River. The helicopter was flying about 100 feet over the maximum allowed for that route, the NTSB said earlier.
ADS-B is an advanced surveillance technology to track aircraft location. Cruz noted the helicopter had a transponder so it would appear on radar but ADS-B is significantly more accurate.
Last week, Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the committee, questioned why the FAA since 2018 has allowed military flights to fly with their installed ADS-B equipment off.
Cruz also said he had asked the FAA to conduct a review of helicopter routes near other congested airports.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/key-safety-system-off-army-helicopter-that-collided-with-american-airlines-jet-2025-02-06/

#93

Other Tulsa Discussion / Re: Another Police Helicopter

Last post by Hoss - February 06, 2025, 02:43:39 PM

It's funny.  Last week people were were experts on how tariffs work; now they're experts on air safety.  🤷

#94

Other Tulsa Discussion / Re: Another Police Helicopter

Last post by whoatown - February 01, 2025, 11:19:18 PM

Care to provide a link to a valid source?

https://defensescoop.com/2025/01/30/army-helicopter-black-hawk-fatal-crash-potomac-not-using-ai-sources-say/

Would be implemented with defense contractor lockheed martin. 

#95

Other Tulsa Discussion / Re: Another Police Helicopter

Last post by whoatown - February 01, 2025, 11:15:20 PM

The leos met the guy that does the king training videos at gunpoint one time when he was transponder off in an area where it wasn't required.  (Post 9/11)

#96

Other Tulsa Discussion / Re: Another Police Helicopter

Last post by whoatown - February 01, 2025, 11:13:05 PM

One more thing (Please pardon the Detective Colombo reference), the military has transponder modes that civilian transponders do not have.  (Ex USN Avionics Tech speaking).  I don't know if the civilian towers have access to those modes, nor do I remember the information transmitted. It's been quite a few years.
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVH40yR6CDc

#97

Other Tulsa Discussion / Re: Another Police Helicopter

Last post by whoatown - February 01, 2025, 11:11:57 PM

Is there another plausible explanation for their transponder not showing up consistently? 

There are some flights watched on one of the flight tracking sites that leave an inconsistent trail.  This could be problems with the ads-b equipment on board or lack of feeders in an area.  Starting with mode S, they wanted transponders that couldn't be turned off at the transponder.  It just added icao identifier instead of just a squak code. Of course, ads-b came later and still isn't a reliable replacement for radar.  But if you're saying they are going dark, maybe they are just deliberately pulling the breaker.  They didn't really want to give leos the ability to go dark with drones either except in certain cases.

#98

Other Tulsa Discussion / Re: Another Police Helicopter

Last post by Red Arrow - January 31, 2025, 11:53:38 PM

One more thing (Please pardon the Detective Colombo reference), the military has transponder modes that civilian transponders do not have.  (Ex USN Avionics Tech speaking).  I don't know if the civilian towers have access to those modes, nor do I remember the information transmitted. It's been quite a few years.
 

#99

Other Tulsa Discussion / Re: Another Police Helicopter

Last post by Red Arrow - January 31, 2025, 11:44:27 PM

You can be sure that general aviation will be required to add avionics costing more than the total value of the aircraft even though they will never fly in the kind of airspace near DC.

#100

Other Tulsa Discussion / Re: Another Police Helicopter

Last post by Red Arrow - January 31, 2025, 11:42:49 PM

I think the professional answer was provided by the NTSB.....let's wait until the facts are in.  It may be fun to speculate but that's all speculation is.  I am particularly offended by El Presidente Trump's response for probable causes.