NTSB investigates go-around! REALLY!

[igneousy2]

NTSB OPENING INVESTIGATION INTO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL INCIDENT INVOLVING AIRCRAFT CARRYING MICHELLE OBAMA
The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into an air traffic control incident on Monday in which the airplane carrying First Lady Michelle Obama aborted a landing attempt at Andrews Air Force Base after an air traffic controller had sequenced it too close to another military plane.
At about 5 pm ET on April 18, the military version of a B-737 that Mrs. Obama was traveling in was directed to abort its landing attempt after the required minimum separation between it and a C-17 military aircraft that was landing ahead of it was compromised.
The incident involved Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers at the Potomac TRACON facility in Virginia and at the Andrews tower in Maryland.
NTSB Air Traffic Control specialist Dan Bartlett is the investigator-in-charge. Parties to the investigation are the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers union.
Media contact:
Peter Knudson
202-314-6100

 

[igneousy2]

Up until recently I have had a lot of respect for the job that the NTSB does...they at least tried to give the appearence of being above the frey of politics. My view has recently changed and because of there stance in the Northwest overflight, there statements about sleeping controllers, and now this...oh well, I guess there is no longer ANY department in the federal government worth keeping.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

This is riding the coattails of all the current ATC issues.

What a waste. Its a formality due to the VIPs on board. Look at how JFK Jr was treated as well as other high profile accidents.

 

[GogglesPisano]

Safety is increasingly being measured by the court of public opinion by way of the 24-hr news networks. Sleeping controllers vs shark attacks. Terrorist threat levels vs sticky accelerators. Americans are terrible -- terrible at evaluating risk and taking actions to avoid it.

And the political appointees in charge of agencies now feel the need to fire controllers and pilots to appease news an ignorant public stoked by slightly less ignorant news anchors.

 

[LJ45]

NAACP next?

 

[248to2.8]

We would be so lucky

 

[kf4amu]

NAACP may say that it was a right wing conspiracy

 

[Flash]

NAACP may say that it was a right wing conspiracy

Was the right wing closer or the left wing?

 

[N1atEcon]

Waste of time and our money.

 

[SLUF4]

pretty ridiculous

 

[IBNAV8R]

Three miles? I guess Ms. Obama's never flown into ORD.

This alarmist crap makes me wanna puke. THE go-around is a demonstration of what's RIGHT with the system.

 

[flyin4jsus]

They should have made her do s-turns on final like going into 35 into phl!

 

[temcgrew]

The report I heard said the aircraft she was on did S-turns and then "aborted the landing". Of course that sounds more dramatic than the term go-around.

 

[b707guy]

No one ever seems to think of the air brakes. C'mon - it worked for Bugs Bunny!

Yep, politics over common sense. Had to go around in LAX a few years back when someone ahead of us chose to use every inch of 25L. We didn't even make the local news.

 

[Slug]

Well, with a 500 knot final approach speed I doubt S-turns would have helped much.

 

[LJ45]

I heard Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson will get to the bottom of this.

 

[ultrarunner]

I heard Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson will get to the bottom of this.

Yeah, right after they crawl out from underneath their w*************************! Of course they'll have to call Marion Barry first, and get him on board.....

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

"I was just passing through town...looking for something to do for the evening. The Rotary wasn't meeting...then I heard about this."

 

[Poahi]

I heard Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson will get to the bottom of this.

There will likely be two separation standards. One for high-profile or VIP movement and one for everyone else.

 

[IBNAV8R]

Well, with a 500 knot final approach speed I doubt S-turns would have helped much.

Hows does WN make it work?

 

[LJ45]

NTSB Identification: OPS11IA499B
14 CFR Armed Forces
Incident occurred Monday, April 18, 2011 in
Aircraft: , registration:
Injuries: Unavailable
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On Monday, April 18, 2011 at 5:06pm: EXEC1F/B737 inbound to Andrews Air Force Base (ADW) heading 220 to join the ILS runway 19 approach descending to 4000 feet. (Reach) RCH3115/C17 (Heavy) was vectored in front of EXEC1F for the ILS runway 19 approach. Closest Proximity 2.94 miles.

Both EXEC1F and REACH3115 were landing at Andrews Air Force Base and radar vectored for an ILS approach to runway 19L. REACH3115 was a heavy jet and EXEC1F was a B737. The required separation is 5 miles in trail for wake turbulence separation.

The radar controller at Potomac TRACON vectored EXEC1F within 3.08 miles of the heavy jet and advised the pilot he was 4 miles in trail. The radar controller advised the pilot of EXEC1F to use caution for wake turbulence, cleared the aircraft for the ILS approach and instructed the pilot to contact Andrews Tower.


As soon as EXEC1F contacted the tower, the tower controller asked ECEX1F to make "S" turns on final to get additional spacing. The pilot of EXEC1F did comply with the request, however, the spacing had continued to deteriorate to 2.94 miles. The tower controller then instructed EXEC1F to "go around" because the spacing was not adequate for landing. The weather was reported to be Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC).

 

[Mr Wu]

What a bunch of drama queens all you guys are. There's always an investigation when there's a loss of separation, even if it's only a supervisor looking at the tapes. Quit buying into the media's sensationalism.

 

[LJ45]

I guess you don't get the sarcasm in the post?