A failure by Navy air traffic controllers to follow standard procedures contributed to a midair collision that killed seven Coast Guard members and two Marines off Southern California last year, according to a Coast Guard report released Tuesday.
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The collision occurred in a so-called military warning area — airspace that is not controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration. Pilots are on their own to watch for others in the area.
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The Navy faulted the Coast Guard and Marine pilots for failing to watch out for each other, saying it was their responsibility to avoid crashing under "see-and-avoid" rules, even though the controller was aware of their presence.
"Both aircraft were operating under visual flight rules and were ultimately responsible for their own safety, navigation and separation from other aircraft," the Navy report said.ttp://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gCJN2Wyd01AZIxooIYmr3QOOzBAAD9HQ4K700
Those controllers not flying right again.