Midair collision raises safety concerns at Arizona airports
- A midair collision of two small planes occurred over a runway near Tucson, Arizona, resulting in one aircraft crashing and catching fire.
- Eyewitness reports indicate that pilots attempted to communicate urgency during the incident, highlighting the dangerous nature of flying without air traffic control.
- Experts argue that while control towers may enhance safety, airports can operate safely without them by following established communication protocols.
In Arizona, two small planes collided midair over a runway near Tucson last week, prompting questions about airport safety and the need for control towers. One of the aircraft crashed to the ground and caught fire, creating a spectacle of black smoke. Eyewitness Erwin Castillo, associated with IFLY Pilot Training, reported hearing a pilot's urgent cry for help, indicating the gravity of the situation. Federal investigators are now looking into the causes of the incident, a process that can be expected to take months to complete. While some critics believe that having air traffic control towers could have prevented the collision, experts emphasize that airports without such towers are not inherently unsafe. Pilots operating in such environments learn to rely on radio communications and the principle of 'see and avoid' for maintaining safety in the skies. This fundamental approach to safety is ingrained in pilots from the very start of their training, regardless of the airspace in which they operate. Historically, the evolution of air traffic control has been a continuous process, particularly in the wake of previous tragic incidents. For example, the 1956 Grand Canyon collision that resulted in the deaths of 128 people led to significant reforms in air traffic regulations and the establishment of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Currently, the FAA allows for airports to seek federal grants to either modernize or construct new traffic control towers, emphasizing the importance of organized air traffic management. As of now, plans are underway to build new towers, such as at Marana Airport, which was initially approved for a tower in 2019. However, delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed the expected completion date to 2029. Furthermore, despite recent workforce reductions at the FAA, officials declare that essential air traffic controllers and safety staff have not been affected. Nonetheless, concerns remain about the overall staffing levels of air traffic control towers, indicating a need for greater focus on aviation safety.