ATC could see both of them no problem, but ATC is often overloaded and will pawn off responsibility to the pilots to maintain separation.
Legally speaking, the controller in that accident did their job correctly. The helicopter pilots assured the controller multiple times that they would pass behind the jet.
The current hot topic is ADSB IN. Most aircraft are required to have ADSB OUT these days, but very few aircraft (especially airliners) have recievers to display that info.
It’s direct, line of site communication from aircraft to aircraft. Exact position in relation to each other, right on your nav display.
My understanding is that it’s an upgrade to the current situational awareness provided by TCAS. TCAS is wonderful but broke down in the DCA crash because [I don’t remember the real reason so I’d just be guessing here]. TCAS should have saved the day, but there was something missing (probably the helicopter transponder wasn’t “participating” in the TCAS conversation that airplanes usually have (the TCAS computers, not the pilots)).
Would ADSB IN have helped prevent DCA? Yes, assuming the helicopter had it they would have had better situational awareness. If the helicopter had their transponder turned off, though, it’s not clear to me if they would be broadcasting ADSB for the airliner to see.
ATC could see both of them no problem, but ATC is often overloaded and will pawn off responsibility to the pilots to maintain separation.
Legally speaking, the controller in that accident did their job correctly. The helicopter pilots assured the controller multiple times that they would pass behind the jet.
The current hot topic is ADSB IN. Most aircraft are required to have ADSB OUT these days, but very few aircraft (especially airliners) have recievers to display that info.
It’s direct, line of site communication from aircraft to aircraft. Exact position in relation to each other, right on your nav display.
My understanding is that it’s an upgrade to the current situational awareness provided by TCAS. TCAS is wonderful but broke down in the DCA crash because [I don’t remember the real reason so I’d just be guessing here]. TCAS should have saved the day, but there was something missing (probably the helicopter transponder wasn’t “participating” in the TCAS conversation that airplanes usually have (the TCAS computers, not the pilots)).
Would ADSB IN have helped prevent DCA? Yes, assuming the helicopter had it they would have had better situational awareness. If the helicopter had their transponder turned off, though, it’s not clear to me if they would be broadcasting ADSB for the airliner to see.