While news people are used to covering crashes, fires, shootings and deaths, this was two of their own. It has remained a significant emotional event for them.
There are two things I'd point out. One is that even in this modern age of technology and after two years of investigating the crash, there is no final determination of the cause. I've only been indirectly involved with one aircraft crash. It was an almost brand-new A7 jet fighter that flamed out on a pilot who ejected and landed safely. The aircraft buried into earth and the only recognizable part I could see was the engine itself. The investigating team of an officer and one noncommissioned officer assured me that they could determine what had happened. I don't see then or now how they could do that.
Then there is the issue of helicopters and the Puget Sound region. When I talk to people around the nation they can't believe that the city of Seattle does not own and operate a helicopter. But then, the city is also hundreds of police officers short of what some East Coast cities have. And, almost every year, like this year — the King County Aviation section is on the cutting block. The initial cost of the aircraft is only one part. You have staffing, parts and fuel costs as part of the mix. The King County Executive is threatening again to cut the capability — since certainly no one is going to raise taxes to fund government activities.
One of the outcomes from the Cascadia Rising 2016 Earthquake Exercise was the extreme shortfall in rotary-winged aircraft in the region, including military aircraft being part of the mix. There is not enough of a lift capacity for a large-scale disaster. While that might be the extreme case, having a local government aviation capability is critical for a place like ours with mountains on one side and the ocean on the other.
Today we still lean on media helicopters to provide situational awareness to emergency operations centers. Until we allow governments to have a drone capability, the deficiency in gaining and maintaining situational awareness will remain — and at what cost?
And no, a drone won't lift an injured hiker or climber out of the woods or off a mountain. A mix of capabilities is needed.
