[jlisenbe]

Her assignment was to simulate flying members of Congress out of DC in an emergency.

Based upon the results of this flight, it is not a reassuring thought.

I would think it would be a serious problem in having the training pilot inferior in rank to the trainee pilot. We can hope the military has some sort of procedure in place to handle it, but still...

[tomder55]

I suspect officers frequently ignore those they outrank and suspect the consequences are not noticeable . I was not in the military . But as a manager I welcomed the input of employees with more experience.

[tomder55]

Air traffic is back in the news over the fiasco and embarrassing disruptions at Liberty Newark Airport ;a major national and international hub. When I lived in the area ,it was my preferred point of departure and arrival.
Massive delays ;flight cancellations have led to a very dangerous situation that culminated with Air Traffic control losing communication with flights for 90 seconds

The compliant press was quick to blame Trump and Musk cuts on the situation.

A more sober look shows that this has been a multi year problem waiting to happen.

Flashback 2003
Congress passed major legislation to upgrade the air traffic system

H.R.2115 - 108th Congress (2003-2004): Vision 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Mounting congestion in the 1990s and predictions of even greater demand for aviation services motivated the U.S. Congress to pass the Vision 100—Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act of 2003. The act established the Joint Planning and Development Office to create a unified vision of what the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) should deliver for the next generation and beyond.

NextGen Background | Federal Aviation Administration

So where are we with this modernization ?

FAA is still using floppy discs .

Floppy disks and aging software: FAA held back by technology woes | FedScoop

The NextGen upgrades are not due to be completed until 2030 . No doubt by then the upgrades will be obsolete.
Meanwhile the GAO found
76% of the agency’s air traffic control systems were either unsustainable or potentially unsustainable. In 2024, the FAA said the average age of an air traffic control tower was 40 years, and the majority of radar systems were approaching the same age.
The agency has also been plagued by a longstanding staffing crunch. It had about 10,700 certified professional controllers at the end of fiscal year 2024, more than 3,000 short of desired levels.
U.S. prepares air-traffic overhaul as vulnerabilities rock Newark | The Seattle Times

Trump's fault .