AIR FARCE ONE
On Monday, April 27th, an incredible sight appeared over the skies of New York. Circling the Statue of Liberty, at low altitude and accompanied by two fighter jets, a 747 was maneuvering at barely 1,000 feet AGL(above ground level). This was not an American or United jet, though, this was Air Force One, a member of the Presidents fleet. However, on a warm New York day, you can cut the smog with a knife, and through the haze it was difficult to see the brilliant insignia.
It was also difficult to see through the panic, as one might well imagine, that was unfolding throughout Manhattan and New York City in general. Office buildings were evacuated, emergency lines were jammed, traffic snarled, and general mayhem ensued. Unless you've just retired from Amish country, nearly every American knows that the sight of a low-flying, large jet over New York would stir up some pretty bad memories, at the very least.
Even for me, a New Hampshire native, the video of a Boeing 747 flying that low with two fighter jets escorting, brought a certain chill over me. It reminded me of how that sight, in and of itself, brings me back to September 11th, 2001 instantly.
Surely, for New Yorkers, it must have been frightening. What explanation could there possibly be? Another aircraft without power ditching in the Hudson? Has "Hudson Ditching" become some kind of cult-sport among airline pilots, with some crusty, old pilot now trying it with a 747?
Imagine now, the mass-astonishment at learning that the entire event was a staged photo-op, choreographed by White House staff. Huh? My first thought was how entirely insensitive someone must be to order such a flight. The obvious reaction it would invoke, not to mention the danger of folks getting crushed in a mass exodus or in crammed stairwells. Nearly a week later, I am still stunned at the decision.
For the first few days, the news was that the idea had come from the Defense Department and that President Obama had not known about it. That seemed, and still does seem, implausible to me. I don't pretend to know anything about White house protocol in such matters, it just seems beyond belief to me that any Air Force One 747 goes anywhere without the Presidents knowledge. Either way, that someone on his staff made the decision is equally unsettling to me, given the depth of the transgression and the crater of bad judgment it represents.
As a private pilot, I know just enough to be dangerous, but I do know that landing, taking off, and low-level maneuvering are the three most dangerous phases of flight. It's simple, there is less altitude, and therefore less time and options if something goes wrong. There is also the matter of airplane performance at slower speeds which is diminished in any size aircraft. If you pay attention to news coverage of aviation accidents, you will notice a much greater incidence of accidents at, or near airports. "Low and slow" is the saying among pilots, and it warrants your full attention when flying in that configuration.
Now, with that information, consider the further astonishment of learning that the FBI, FAA, New York Mayor's Office, and others were informed of the flight beforehand, but ordered not to leak it to anyone. You can bet they didn't want any nut-cases launching shoulder-fired rockets from below, but why inform anyone in that case? It is simply amazing to me that no where in this chain-of-command, someone didn't stop and say..."Does the President know about this? Because this is really going to make him look like an insensitive, egomaniacal, jerk." Yes, it did.
Add to this gooey mix of insensibilities the additional fact that just a few months ago an Airbus was forced to ditch in the Hudson River after both engines pigged out on Roasted Goose, and you have one more good reason not to be flying a jet low in that area without necessity. I can tell you, even in a small plane, I would be on high-alert for bird strikes in that part of town. I have flown down the "VFR Corridor" on the Hudson River many times flying into Teterboro, New Jersey. It is congested airspace, even without the birds, and the idea of maneuvering a 747 at low altitude in that area is mind-boggling. I am surprised, in a way, that the pilots of Air Force One accepted the mission without voicing concern. Or maybe they did.
No matter how you view it, the facts of the case are yet another indication, in my opinion, of a certain "kid-in-a-candy-store" kind of mentality that seems to pervade the new administration. The mistakes while overseas, the Tonight Show appearance, are all instances of a kind of "tackiness" that is uncomfortable. I'm trying to imagine a "President McCain" ordering such a stunt, and it doesn't seem likely. Add this to the release of our torture protocol to our enemies, and one must admit there is a significant naivety here.
Let's hope that this is not "Doogie Howser:President of the United States", because frankly, I don't see the "networks" picking it up for another season.
Karl From New Hampshire