Things you never want to see in D.C.

This discussion made me pull out the flip-card checklist that I made during flight school in 1977. (Typed on 5" x 8" index cards and held together by a couple of metal rings, what I thought was pretty cool back then looks pretty pathetic now. But the dirt and oil stains attest to its use.) On the Light Gun Signals card in the Emergency section, the entry for Alternating Green and Red Lights -- both in the air and on the ground -- says "Exercise extreme caution". I don't think the non-LED lights alternated as quickly back then, but I never had a reason to see them firsthand, thank God. BTW, the official FAA list is at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/ATpubs/ATC/atc0302.html.

This is the section of the NOTAM about the red/red/green signal in the FRZ
http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/notices/2012-02-09/Part1,Sec%203.cfm

No - the red/green "sparkle" is specific to the FRZ (the "inner ring" around Washington, DC). If you are not law enforcement/military or otherwise specifically authorized to be in the FRZ (such as flights to/from KDCA), you will be sparkled.

How about the dreaded suitcase nuke many of which once in former Soviet hands are unaccounted for that could level multiple trade center structures like those on 911 to say nothing of the radiation contamination. They could easily be accomodated in a small SE airplane. The small airplane is probably more likely to be used in a future terrorist scenario than the big iron only because it is so inherently stealthy. You can be sure too that such a scenario will involve low flying thus delaying detection until in close by skin paint only. Sparkling lights mean nothing to a terrorist. By then it could be too late for any type of intercept. This entire exercise was staged. I would hope that exercises with simulated aggressor penetrations are being conducted to see if the would be terrorist could succeed in making it to a target of opportunity. For National Security purposes, the results of those exercises should never see the light of day.

Can't find any. Wish there was.

Do you really think that our pilots would have a problem targeting a great big commercial airliner? They need practice at tiny, WAY slower targets.

I have no doubt at all...if this was a large machine it would be disabled by ordnance. Either with air to air or from the ground. This video is targeted at GA not the pro sabateur.

Not sure if you remember 9/11 or not...