Helicopter crash Superior Arizona 01/02/2026

[RVDT]

Originally Posted by Gordy

Not unless you put them on nope. But when I see stuff like this in my area of flying then yes, I draw them on using the pencil drawing feature, lest I forget. Tis all part of pre-planning.

Ah yes, the 6 P's.

[albatross]

Originally Posted by EXDAC

The actual regulation is in 14 CFR part 77 -

"77.9 Construction or alteration requiring notice.

If requested by the FAA, or if you propose any of the following types of construction or alteration, you must file notice with the FAA of:

(a) Any construction or alteration that is more than 200 ft. AGL at its site."

This appears to be a requirement for notification not a requirement for approval. Clearly FAA was aware since a NOTAM was issued.

I have yet to see any images that show anything like an "aviation marker". Please post if you have any such image.

Perhaps FAA were aware and issued the NOTAM but did anyone visit the site to confirm adequate and visible markings were in place?

[EXDAC]

Originally Posted by albatross

Perhaps FAA were aware and issued the NOTAM but did anyone visit the site to confirm adequate and visible markings were in place?

I think that is assumed by my previous assertion that notification was given but no approval was needed, requested, or granted.

[EXDAC]

Some information I had not seen before in this recently released video -

You Tube

[albatross]

Originally Posted by EXDAC

I think that is assumed by my previous assertion that notification was given but no approval was needed, requested, or granted.

Quote:
Originally Posted by albatross
Perhaps FAA were aware and issued the NOTAM but did anyone visit the site to confirm adequate and visible markings were in place?

I understand that notification seems to be all that is required. of the persons putting the line in place.
My question is does the FAA , besides issuing the NOTAM perhaps occasionally show up to see that the required markers and lights are indeed in place and of a adequate size, colour and brightness to allow pilots to see and avoid the obstacle?

[twinstar_ca]

I understand that notification seems to be all that is required. of the persons putting the line in place.
My question is does the FAA , besides issuing the NOTAM perhaps occasionally show up to see that the required markers and lights are indeed in place and of a adequate size, colour and brightness to allow pilots to see and avoid the obstacle?[/QUOTE]

I think that's a great question. Even something as simple as a phone call to the hill operator the day before the intended flight to inquire if everything is in place and visible. Not that's not to say you can easily see the obstruction from the ground, but are there other drivers/operators who have been operating in the area in the last couple of days who could add to the conversation.

Fly safe, everyone....

[EXDAC]

Prelim NTSB report here - https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/a...ort/202237/pdf

[albatross]

Originally Posted by EXDAC

Prelim NTSB report here - https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/a...ort/202237/pdf

.74 of a mile is +- 3900 feet. so a windsock every 780 feet or 560 feet apart if spaced evenly across the span and not close to either ends.
Depending on winds and approaching aircraft could be looking at the diameter of the windsock or its length … or some combination thereof
How big are the windsock's?
How bright are the LED lights…were they visible during the day or solar charged and operated only dusk to dawn?

In the rules for marking cable spans I saw no mention of windsocks. and markers seem to be mandated 200 feet apart. and be 36 inches in diameter. I could find no diagram specific to slacklines.

.

[[email protected]]

So you don't have a free system like this in the US? https://www.notaminfo.com/ukmap

[MechEngr]

Since the helicopter hit the slack line, it's very likely that the slackline was against the sky and was a similar brightness as the sky behind it.

Had the helicopter been at a greater altitude the slack line would have been very visible, as it is in the photo in the NTSB report. I think a similar problem happens with the LEDs and the wind socks - the contrast is insufficient to be readily noticed against the sky by a pilot who is likely concentrating on the distance below the aircraft and to surrounding mountains.

I have no doubt that the concern was empirically correct on every other trip, but it does suggest that the FAA has not provided sufficient guidance or research over what marking is sufficient.

I'll just repeat - the FAA needs to implement a radio based system of alerting that can be used by ground operators to mark temporary and permanent obstructions and to mandate the use and make it required equipment to receive and give audio and visual feedback to the pilots when proximity is computed. Instead of just a NOTAM the FAA could require transmitters that would convey suitable data, making for a rental market for such temporary things as tower cranes or logging operations.

The guy in New Zealand has recently upgraded his system that does this sort of detection to not only include proximity and altitude, but also give voice outputs so that a drone operator with First Person Video glasses doesn't have to look at a receiver screen to be informed of a potential conflict with manned aircraft. He's one guy, a hobbyist, with a small budget. Why the FAA won't or hasn't moved forward on this boggles the mind.

For Beta software, it does the job.

You Tube

[Gordy]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

So you don't have a free system like this in the US? https://www.notaminfo.com/ukmap

Yes we do:

https://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSear....html#/results

[[email protected]]

Yes we do:

https://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSear....html#/results

That doesn't seem anything like as easy to use as a map you can scroll and zoom which show the dimensions of each notam as well as the details.