​A Greensboro flight instructor says he was shocked at the news of Wednesday’s plane and helicopter collision in Washington, D.C. The ripple effects, he says, are happening across the aviation industry.  Read More  Breaking News

NEWS. AND AS THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CRASH CONTINUES, THE AVIATION COMMUNITY IS TRYING TO PROCESS ONE OF THE DEADLIEST ACCIDENTS IN THE INDUSTRY IN RECENT MEMORY. WXII 12 KELLY KENDALL SPOKE WITH A LOCAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TRAINED TO TEACH OTHERS ABOUT FLIGHT SAFETY AND KELLY. WHAT WAS HIS REACTION TO THIS CRASH? LINDSEY, HE SAYS THIS SORT OF THING JUST DOESN’T HAPPEN IN AMERICAN AVIATION, AND TODAY WILL BE REMEMBERED AS A DARK DAY IN OUR COUNTRY’S LONG HISTORY OF FLIGHT. IT’S VERY SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED. AND, YOU KNOW, SHOCK IS DEFINITELY THE FIRST THING YOU FEEL. GREENSBORO FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CHRISTOPHER VIRGA HAS BEEN FLYING FOR YEARS. HE SAYS A TRAGEDY LIKE THE ONE THAT UNFOLDED IN WASHINGTON, DC IS EXTREMELY RARE. I THINK THE LAST ACCIDENT WE’VE HAD IN THE UNITED STATES LIKE THIS WAS 2009, I THINK. AND SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, AND IT’S SOMETHING THAT SENDS RIPPLES THROUGH THE THROUGH THE INDUSTRY FOR SURE. ONE OF THOSE RIPPLES IS THE PUBLIC FEELING DOUBTFUL ABOUT AVIATION STANDARDS. BUT VIRGA SAYS THOSE STANDARDS ARE PART OF WHY ACCIDENTS ARE SO RARE. WE’VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB IN THE UNITED STATES, SPECIFICALLY WITH WRITING EFFECTIVE REGULATION AND MAKING SAFETY OUR TOP PRIORITY IN ALL IN ALL ASPECTS OF AVIATION. BUT WE’RE TRAINED EXTENSIVELY ON RISK MANAGEMENT AND HOW TO IDENTIFY RISKS AND HOW TO MITIGATE RISKS. ANOTHER RIPPLE. PEOPLE DEMANDING ANSWERS AND CHANGE. VIRGA SAYS THE CURRENT FOCUS IS ON RECOVERY AND HELPING VICTIMS FAMILIES. BUT HE SAYS LIKE WITH ANY AVIATION INCIDENT, THIS CRASH WILL BE INVESTIGATED. FOR NOW, HE URGES THE PUBLIC TO BE PATIENT. IT’S SO EASY TO START SPECULATION AND RUMORS, AND I JUST URGE PEOPLE NOT TO. THE NTSB IS GOING TO DO A FULL AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION. THE NTSB IS REALLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO. THEY’RE GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. IT’S JUST GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, AND WE’LL HAVE THE ANSWERS THAT WE WANT. VIRGA SAYS HE WAS HEARTBROKEN BY THE LIVES LOST IN THIS CRASH, BUT HE WANTS TO ASSURE ANY TAKING PLACE WITHOUT INCIDENT. AND IT IS STILL SAFE TO FLY. LIVE IN GREENSBORO TONIGHT.

‘It’s genuinely shocking’: Triad flight instructor discusses DC plane crash impact on aviation industry

A Greensboro flight instructor says he was shocked at the news of Wednesday’s plane and helicopter collision in Washington, D.C. The ripple effects, he says, are happening across the aviation industry.

As recovery efforts continue following Wednesday’s deadly American Airlines plane collision into a U.S. military helicopter, the aviation community is processing one of the deadliest accidents in their industry in recent memory.Greensboro flight instructor Christopher Virga says he was shocked to hear the news.“It’s very sudden and unexpected,” he said. “And shock is definitely the first thing you feel.”Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereVirga has been flying for a number of years. He says a tragedy like the one that unfolded in Washington, D.C., is extremely rare.“I think the last accident we’ve had in the United States like this was 2009,” Virga said. “And so this is not something that happens all the time, and it’s something that sends ripples through the industry for sure.”Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.One of those ripples is the public feeling less confident about aviation standards and regulations. However, Virga says those regulations contribute to why accidents like this one are so rare.“We’ve done a really good job in the United States, specifically with writing effective regulation and making safety our top priority in all aspects of aviation from general aviation to airline aviation,” he said. “And so having incidents happen and accidents, especially like this one — it’s so far and few between that when they do happen, it’s genuinely shocking. ”Part of Virga’s current job is teaching others how to fly safely with emergency management in mind. He says intensive training is an industry-wide standard.“We’re trained extensively on risk management, how to identify risks, and how to mitigate risks,” Virga said. Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsAnother impact of an aviation accident like this one is the public demanding answers and change. Virga said the current focus is on recovery and helping victims’ families, but like any aviation incident, this crash will be thoroughly investigated by agencies like the National Transportation Safety Board. He urged the public to remain patient.“It’s so easy to start speculation and rumors, and I just urge people not to,” Virga said. “The NTSB is going to do a full and thorough investigation. The NTSB is really good at what they do. They’re going to get to the bottom of it. It’s just going to take some time.”Virga said he is heartbroken over the lives lost but wants to assure nervous travelers that the vast majority of flights take place without incident and that flying is still a safe way to travel. NAVIGATE: Home

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