IMPORTANT: call NASA

[Typhoon1244]

PILOTS: if you observed the break-up of the shuttle this morning, call the Johnson Space Center at (281) 483-3388. They are very interested in gathering contact information from reliable witnesses.

We were westbound at FL280 over Tyler, Texas, when we saw the shuttle break up right in front of us. We didn't realize what it was at the time...looked like a military aircraft releasing flares and chaff. There are just no words to describe what I felt when I realized what it was.

 

[350DRIVER]

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families. May God bless them...

We were westbound at FL280 over Tyler, Texas, when we saw the shuttle break up right in front of us

In your opinion, how and why was your view any more detailed and important than the footage and witness accounts from people on the ground. Seems that 200,000 feet above would probably not look much different from 280 than looking up from the ground. Any thoughts from "your" perspective.? At that altitude and speed during the re-entry I couldn't imagine that even at 60,000 feet would produce much of a detailed view.

NASA usually tracks the shuttle during re-entry with top notch and advanced telescopes and other equipment that I would only assume could give detailed information not visible to the "naked eye".


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[350DRIVER]

As a side note, the above mentioned number as CNN is reporting is ONLY to be called by people who have seen and are "reporting" Debris from the shuttle per the request by NASA.

"If you see debris, call (281) 493-3388" "



A very sad day for the country...

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[cornbread]

Putz

The tone of your reply is such a put-off. Also, do you know for sure that the same number was not given out for eyewitness accounts in a communique that he saw? Your know-it-all tone sounds like you would be a joy to fly with. Did you find the right bag?

 

[350DRIVER]

I was on the phone with a friend who is a first officer with AA and they were coming in to DFW and saw a similiar sight inflight back into DFW..... He called and stated that the folks were not overly friendly and he also stated that they were getting calls left and right so that was the only reason that I even posted the response in the first place. Sorry if the relpy came off wrong, definitely had no intentions of that happening. Just what CNN was reporting pertaining to the phone number given.

As for the other part of the post, I was just curious how much he actually saw at 280. I know when we cruise 280 it is hard to identify airliners even at 35-40,000 ft let alone an object being up at 200,000 ft.

Did you find the right bag?

Travelpro crew 4 line 22"

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[cornbread]

What aircraft are you flying at FL280?

 

[cornbread]

I presume it is a King Air. Good for you.

 

[350DRIVER]

What aircraft are you flying at FL280?

The 3 & 350 on the longer haul routes. Although a CRJ or ERJ would be nicer (one day)

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[Typhoon1244]

350Driver...I don't know what to say. Yours has to be the most pathetic post I've ever seen on this board.

To answer your question, NASA is handling this much like the NTSB does: they want to talk to anyone (who possesses a degree of credibility) who saw anything. The lady I spoke with was very receptive, took detailed notes on what my F/O and I saw, and asked if they could contact me again at a later date.

We were westbound at FL280 in a CRJ-200, 310 indicated, just south and west of the GGG vortac, near the Toledo Bend reservoir. Two other flights in our vicinity saw the same thing. We had almost five miles less atmosphere between us and Columbia than the people on the ground. There were details we saw vividly.

When we first caught sight of it, it appeared to be a contrail from another aircraft around FL410. As it came closer, we saw two thinner, just-barely-visible vapor trails immediately behind it, but at different distances. ('A tanker with a pair of fighters?' I thought.) Then, when it was directly in front of our nose, a shower of "sparks" separated symmetrically from both sides of the "aircraft." I began to wonder it was a B-1 firing chaff and flares. The pieces we saw breaking free were burning different colors, depending on their size. (Larger parts were bright white-orange. Smaller pieces were green.) A few seconds after the "flares" broke free, we saw the main body glowing very bright orange, then separate into three distinct pieces. These pieces continued to travel east and were still leaving vivid vapor trails when we lost sight of them behind the left wing. The trails dissipated very rapidly.

So yeah, we saw a little more detail than Joe Blow and his camcorder outside the Mini-Mart.

But, hey, maybe I'm wrong and it's not my duty to try and help my government during a crisis. After all, it wasn't my Space Shuttle, right 350Driver?

 

[dmspilot00]

I bet that airline pilots would be able to give better witness accounts than people that are clueless when it comes to flying objects. That's why.

 

[Stephen]

[When we first caught sight of it, it appeared to be a contrail from another aircraft around FL410. As it came closer, we saw to thinner, just-barely-visible vapro trails immediately behind it, but at different distances. ('A tanker with a pair of fighters?' I thought.) Then, when it was directly in front of our nose, a shower of "sparks" separated symmetrically from both sides of the "aircraft." I began to wonder it was a B-1 firing chaff and flares. The pieces we saw breaking free were burning different colors, depending on their size. (Larger parts were bright white-orange. Smaller pieces were green.) A few seconds after the "flares" broke free, we saw the main body glowing very bright orange, then separate into three distinct pieces. These pieces continued to travel east and were still leaving vivid vapor trails when we lost sight of them behind the left wing.

Nice account. Nice attention to detail. Sounds like you took notes right after you saw it. Must have been a moving sight.

 

[Typhoon1244]

Must have been a moving sight.

I don't know if "moving" is the right word. When we got to DFW and were told by other pilots what it was, I was sick to my stomach.

As a side note, the above mentioned number as CNN is reporting is ONLY to be called by people who have seen and are "reporting" Debris from the shuttle per the request by NASA.

"If you see debris, call (281) 483-3388"

This is not correct. This number is for anyone who has information relevant to the accident, wreckage-related or otherwise.

 

[350DRIVER]

But, hey, maybe I'm wrong and it's not my duty to try and help my government during a crisis. After all, it wasn't my Space Shuttle, right 350Driver?

First, my response was definitely taken out of text and was very much misunderstood. I was simply relaying information from CNN as well as a AA first officer who was in the vicinity at that time who's phone conversation was with the above mentioned number. (nothing more and nothing less) Obviously if you were a witness who could provide important details about the accident then by all means I would have done the same as you did. I respect the position that you hold with ASA and what you did to the utmost and if I was in your position I am sure I would have done the same and I truly appreciate your detailed response stating what you saw..

A sad day for all and may God Bless the families and friends of this shuttle crew.


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[Typhoon1244]

First, my response was definitely taken out of [con]text and was very much misunderstood.

Okay, it happens.

Obviously if you were a witness who could provide important details about the accident...

The thing is that nobody really knows what "important details" are yet. Some seemingly innocuous observation could conceivably be the key to solving this thing. To tell you the truth, I doubt our observations will make much difference...but we did get an awful good look at it.

I respect the position that you hold with ASA and what you did to the utmost...

Oh, now you're just trying to get me to carry a resume in for you!

No, all jokes aside, I appreciate your comments.

This has been rough. As Herb Morrison said as Hindenburg settled to the ground before him, "...this is the worst thing I've ever witnessed..."

 

[ifly4food]

350Driver...I don't know what to say. Yours has to be the most pathetic post I've ever seen on this board.

To answer your question, NASA is handling this much like the NTSB does: they want to talk to anyone (who possesses a degree of credibility) who saw anything. The lady I spoke with was very receptive, took detailed notes on what my F/O and I saw, and asked if they could contact me again at a later date...

...So yeah, we saw a little more detail than Joe Blow and his camcorder outside the Mini-Mart.

But, hey, maybe I'm wrong and it's not my duty to try and help my government during a crisis. After all, it wasn't my Space Shuttle, right 350Driver?

Excellent response Typhoon.

I read your dramatic account here and on the ALPA board, and for once I was lost for words. I can't imagine what you all must have felt. Especially when you found out from Center what it was. It's quite possible that your conversation with Center was the first conclusive evidence that something had gone wrong.

BTW, I love your signature. That must be my all time favorite movie.