That's what I wondered as well.
Whether their
politics are beginning to affect the
performance of their jobs.
However, the full text (posted below) in Post 2 indicates there was a communication breakdown in the tower--both radio-problems and ATC's fault; they were given the "We're lifting off in 3 minutes" warning (and SHOULD have instituted ground stop at THAT moment), they didn't understand, were notified again once the President's helicopter was in the air and then acted all surprised--wha? huh? sort of responses from the tower (see below)--and ATC's had JUST allowed a large commercial jet to take off from Reagan--AFTER receiving the 3-minute warning:
From video in post 2, the President's helicopter flying over Ronald Reagan airport:
View attachment 615120
Seconds before (from same video) the jet taking off:
View attachment 615121
Full text:
Here’s the MARINE ONE ATC audio from yesterday.
M1 made several calls to NATIONAL TOWER (DCA) on the helicopter specific frequency advising they are 3 minutes from lifting. Tower hear’s them briefly on one attempt and say’s they’re broken and unreadable. M1 then lifts getting a better radio line of sight to the tower cab and say’s they’re on the go. Tower comes back confused, saying, “Ok, no 3 minutes, roger” and there ensues confusion from the Tower as they just cleared a Embraer Regional Jet off Runway 01 which the runway basically points towards the Ellipse. M1 calls the traffic insight and decides to pause (smart pilots). While this Envoy Air jet is required to perform a left turn upon departure to avoid the P-56 Prohibited airspace that encompasses the Ellipse. You have a jet accelerating towards the helicopter carrying POTUS in an extremely nervous environment especially since the post DCA crash in 2025. Contributing factors are a relatively new landing zone for M1, DCA tower acknowledging M1 but can’t understand, a busy tower frequency already with several local, federal, and military helicopters already consuming the frequency. Being in tune *pun with VHF airband communications, operating helicopter and trying to call ATC from the ground. Sometimes you can hear ATC and they can hear you and the next minute (especially when you are on the cusp of line of sight comms) It can come down to a variety of factors including atmospheric conditions and just exactly how your antenna is pointed and in some cases this can be a matter of feet or less. The “angle of the dangle” if you will. I don’t know what procedures are in place for M1 communicating with ATC on the ground at the Ellipse besides VHF airband. I can tell you post this incident, I’d have an open telephone line to the tower cab during this whole pickup/dropoff evolution to ensure broken comms are received and understood. And or, I’d have a complete ground stop at DCA while M1 is on the ground. PS. There have been airliners departing DCA in the past and have missed their turn and penetrated the P-56 Prohibited airspace. So while it wasn’t as big of a deal this time, It could potentially be in the future if not addressed. Has something like this in the past happened?… probably but it’s just got now a microscope over the whole area every time these is one slight mix up or mess up. At lease the helipad is getting installed at the WH.
