By james art 
Baton Rouge – As recovery efforts continue after a plane crash on Wednesday night in Washington, WBRZ talks to a Baton Rouge pilot that made this flight in DC many times before.
Tom Landry has been a pilot in the Air Force for six years and a pilot of the instructor for a little over three years. He then became a pilot at American Airlines, flying for them for 33 years, 25 of which was a captain. He says he now flies corporate in Baton Rouge.
Landry told WBRZ about one of the main approved routes at Reagan National Airport. It involves flying over the center of the Potomak River, as DC has many limited and prohibited air spaces as the capital of the nation.
Due to the short length of the slopes of the Reagan airport, over 90% of the flights use their main track.
“The fact that this is a short track, I think it is 5200 feet. Most jets require a minimum of 5000 feet, so you are hardly only over the naked minima so that this aircraft can land,” Landri said.
American Airlines Flight 5342 was diverted to track 33, which is much simpler.
“What they did is not a very common airline maneuver. Usually it’s for turbooprox and small travelers because the track is so short and make quite good turns near the ground and this is common with Washington,” Landri said S
According to Flight Akrind, the last recorded altitude was about 400 feet. Landry says that when you are so low and near the airport, the pilot does not look at his countries.
“You focus entirely on finding this track, lining and you will touch for seconds,” Landri said.
Landri also talks about some of the technology that should be on board all commercial airlines, the terminal clash and the avoidance system.
“This will inform us if there is an airplane near you, where it is at and the altitude above or below you, as well as any trends, whether it is to climb or descend,” Landry said.
However, he said that the smaller you are, the less you will rely on this system as you are so close to the ground.
“The travel aircraft that was there, and all airlines under 500 feet, Ra, the resolution organ is prevented so that it cannot tell you what to do so it will advise you if there is someone there that you do not have that you do not нямате, че нямате, че нямате, че нямате, че нямате, че нямате, че нямате, че нямате, че нямате, че нямате, че нямате, че нямате, че нямате, че нямате, че нямате, че нямате, че нямате, That you do not have, that you do not have, that you do not have, that you will not not know, ”Landri said.