StinkJet retweeted
Writing this in my personal capacity, but I have been flying these types of aircraft for more than 20 years, with over 8,000 hours, and have reasonable familiarity with how the charter world operates. I feel compelled to post after seeing commentary about the Lear 60 crash, from missile strikes to DEI to critiquing this poor woman’s final radio calls.
That last part is what I find most troubling. She was the second-in-command (SIC), and while she was empowered to point out mistakes as part of good crew resource management, she was doing her job, communicating with ATC right to the end in a terrifying situation. She likely knew before many of those calls that she was going to die. I have heard final calls from friends, from military pilots with thousands of hours in fighter aircraft, and they are just as heartbreaking because they know the end is approaching.
I understand the public interest given the footage and audio. But you do not know the aircraft’s maintenance history, whether there was a structural failure, if any failure was induced by turbulence, overspeed, or overcontrol, or everything happening in that cockpit. I am sure weather will be part of the investigation, but beyond that, it is speculation. The charter industry routinely hires commercial pilots very early in their careers to gain experience alongside an ATP-qualified captain before they move up to the airlines. She would still have the appropriate training, qualifications, and checkouts by an FAA examiner or designee.
Let people investigate, learn, and share the facts. Be respectful to those who perished and the families who carry their memories. God bless them and their loved ones.
That last part is what I find most troubling. She was the second-in-command (SIC), and while she was empowered to point out mistakes as part of good crew resource management, she was doing her job, communicating with ATC right to the end in a terrifying situation. She likely knew before many of those calls that she was going to die. I have heard final calls from friends, from military pilots with thousands of hours in fighter aircraft, and they are just as heartbreaking because they know the end is approaching.
I understand the public interest given the footage and audio. But you do not know the aircraft’s maintenance history, whether there was a structural failure, if any failure was induced by turbulence, overspeed, or overcontrol, or everything happening in that cockpit. I am sure weather will be part of the investigation, but beyond that, it is speculation. The charter industry routinely hires commercial pilots very early in their careers to gain experience alongside an ATP-qualified captain before they move up to the airlines. She would still have the appropriate training, qualifications, and checkouts by an FAA examiner or designee.
Let people investigate, learn, and share the facts. Be respectful to those who perished and the families who carry their memories. God bless them and their loved ones.
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StinkJet retweeted
Since your profile indicates you are a former NASA, I thought I would flag a few points:
1. I personally pay for all costs associated with the fleet of F-5 aircraft, be that airshows, NFL flyovers, or NASA workforce incentive flights. The rest of the NASA fleet, including F-15s, F/A-18s, and T-38s, requires currency flights to maintain pilot proficiency. Would you prefer they do that over the desert where no one can see them?
2. Obviously, the first A in NASA is Aeronautics, and throughout our history we have taken NASA X-planes to airshows. In fact, a lot of my strategy at NASA draws upon our proud history. We took the X-31 all the way to the Paris Air Show in 1995, the SR-71 was featured at the Edwards Air Show and Oshkosh in 1997, and the X-29 flew at the Dayton and Oshkosh airshows in 1990. It is part of our history, and do you know why? Because inspiring the next generation of engineers, scientists, researchers, pilots, and astronauts is part of what we do. It always has been.
3. It is also our nation’s 250th birthday and the year we returned NASA astronauts to the lunar environment. We are returning to the Moon, building a Moon base, and this is a great time to get out, engage with the public, and tell the NASA story.
x.com/NASAAdmin/stat…
1. I personally pay for all costs associated with the fleet of F-5 aircraft, be that airshows, NFL flyovers, or NASA workforce incentive flights. The rest of the NASA fleet, including F-15s, F/A-18s, and T-38s, requires currency flights to maintain pilot proficiency. Would you prefer they do that over the desert where no one can see them?
2. Obviously, the first A in NASA is Aeronautics, and throughout our history we have taken NASA X-planes to airshows. In fact, a lot of my strategy at NASA draws upon our proud history. We took the X-31 all the way to the Paris Air Show in 1995, the SR-71 was featured at the Edwards Air Show and Oshkosh in 1997, and the X-29 flew at the Dayton and Oshkosh airshows in 1990. It is part of our history, and do you know why? Because inspiring the next generation of engineers, scientists, researchers, pilots, and astronauts is part of what we do. It always has been.
3. It is also our nation’s 250th birthday and the year we returned NASA astronauts to the lunar environment. We are returning to the Moon, building a Moon base, and this is a great time to get out, engage with the public, and tell the NASA story.
x.com/NASAAdmin/stat…
Somewhere on that beach is a future pilot, engineer or astronaut. That’s why we fly.
An incredible weekend over Huntington Beach with our @NASA team at @PacificAirshow. America has big missions ahead, and we’re going to need the next generation ready to take them on.
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StinkJet retweeted
Incredible @PacificAirshow weekend. The more people looking up and getting inspired, the better.
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StinkJet retweeted
It was my pleasure to personally host NASA leadership in Montana to align around the Ignition priorities and make sure the team is focused and moving safely and urgently.
Decisions of the past have made the second space race closer than it ever needed to be. Under @POTUS’ and with the resources from the Working Family Tax Cut Act, we have the tools to accelerate Artemis, return American astronauts to the Moon, build the base, rebuild the X-plane portfolio, launch more missions of science and discovery, and get America underway on nuclear power in space so the third race will never be in question.
Decisions of the past have made the second space race closer than it ever needed to be. Under @POTUS’ and with the resources from the Working Family Tax Cut Act, we have the tools to accelerate Artemis, return American astronauts to the Moon, build the base, rebuild the X-plane portfolio, launch more missions of science and discovery, and get America underway on nuclear power in space so the third race will never be in question.
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StinkJet retweeted
The Senator said it best. It was the honor of a lifetime to jump into Normandy and take part in the commemoration events recognizing those who served and sacrificed on the anniversary of D-Day.
Very grateful to @SecWar, the @USSOCOM Para-Commandos, @USAmbFrance, and Senator Sheehy.
Very grateful to @SecWar, the @USSOCOM Para-Commandos, @USAmbFrance, and Senator Sheehy.
It was an honor to commemorate the heroes who liberated Europe and saved the free world 82 years ago. The grace and gratitude of the French people in Normandy was palpable and made the event that much more meaningful. It was a pleasure to have the Montana Air National Guard be 🇸
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StinkJet retweeted
Great to fly and speak at Sun ’n Fun. A wonderful opportunity to talk about all the great work the team at @NASA is doing with the Artemis program and America’s return to the Moon 🇺🇸
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StinkJet retweeted
Nominal translunar injection burn complete. The Artemis II crew is officially on the way to the Moon.
America is back in the business of sending astronauts to the Moon. This time, farther than ever before.
America is back in the business of sending astronauts to the Moon. This time, farther than ever before.
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StinkJet retweeted
I am proud of the NASA Aeronautics team for the incredible history at Armstrong and for the history we have yet to make. But you will know we are truly “back” when the second flight of an X-plane is no longer newsworthy.
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