During a nighttime approach into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), a pilot claimed that lighting from UFC construction for Trump’s Bigly Birthday Bash caused one of the most severe visibility disruptions they have experienced in their career. The pilot, who chooses to remain anonymous because he is not authorized to speak on this matter, told MeidasTouch he has filed aviation safety reports with both the Federal Aviation Administration and NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), a confidential reporting program used by aviation professionals to document safety concerns and hazards.
In the final stages of landing, a critical phase of flight, pilots rely heavily on visual references. The pilot described the intense lighting as “10 times worse than any laser illumination event” he ever experienced
The pilot also contact a local FAA office to report the incident but the office told him to contact the White House regarding concerns about the lighting. Obviously, coordination between the People’s House and DCA are spotty at best. It is unclear if the FAA will even review or investigate this matter.