Collision Hearing Addresses False Altitude Readings

[Bekeart]

Collision Hearing Addresses False Altitude Readings

Air traffic controller at Reagan National seemed overworked and confused, NTSB hears

www.newser.com

Altitude: A later analysis showed the Black Hawk's barometric altimeter was off by 80 to 130 feet, misinforming the Black Hawk crew. The difference could have led the crew to believe the helicopter was on a safer, lower path than it was, per the New York Times, when it actually was headed for American Airlines Flight 5342. A pilot instructor told the NTSB that there's no real standard on when to rely on barometric altimeter and that she also checks a radar altimeter on similar flights. "I would think most pilots would be cross-checking both in those conditions," Kylene Lewis said.

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When I took flight training for civilian license :
1) At end of runways there were signs with altitude/elevation.
2) Instructor taught me that it was good to check on-board altimeter against the signs before entering the runway.
3) Barometric setting for altimeter might be incorrect.

Seems so simple.

Beleart

 

[Retired W4]

Before taxiing for take off the current altimeter setting must be set in the Kollsman Window of BOTH altimeters. All aircraft in the vicinity must use the same altimeter setting There may be minor differences in altitude reading between the altimeters but 80-130 of altitude is unacceptable. I'm not saying that was the case here. The altitude restrictions on those corridors are in MSL, not AGL that you get from the radar altimeter. The statement from the "pilot instructor" as mentioned above is ridiculous. I will have to read the transcripts to see what that person actually said.

I have a sense that when the dust settles the UH-60 pilots, and especially the Instructor pilot, will be held responsible.

One other point; Flying with NVG's in that urban environment is just plain DUMB!~! Having flown many hundreds of hours with NVG's in the UH-1, OH-58 and UH-60 I know what I'm talking about.

 

[Rudi]

Seems like a bad place for training?

 

[Harrison]

Seems like a bad place for training?

Old Army saying regarding orders: Ours is not to reason why, ours is to obey and maybe die.