Introduction
In the previous two articles we discussed the approach of a primary only track, AA 77, into Dulles TRACON airspace. We established that no one at any level was aware of the looming threat. We also established that FAA’s Eastern Region, an administrative headquarters, was directing the air traffic control search for missing aircraft.
The Region prompted the ZDC manager to call his counterpart at ZID to look for AA 77. The ZDC manager then briefed his area supervisors that they were looking for limited data tag planes at altitude, specifically AA 77 and UA 175. In this short article we will show that as late as 9:30 UA 175 was a matter of concern to Eastern Region. AA 77 was not
Eastern Region
Eastern Region had jurisdiction over two of the four FAA Air Traffic Control centers involved on 9-11, Washington (ZDC), New York (ZNY), and it worked through them and their subordinate Towers and TRACONs to gather information. For example, instead of calling Indianapolis Center (ZID) direct, the Region had ZDC call ZID to inquire about the loss of AA 77 over Indiana.
Concurrently, Eastern Region was trying to sort out what happened in New York City and was concerned with both AA 11 and UA 175.
AA 11
Here, we return, briefly, to a discussion of the most troublesome ghost on 9-11, the apparent rebirth of AA 11. During interview, Ron Ruggeri, the Eastern Region Quality Assurance Staff Manager, stated he took the following action:
“[He] called the watch desk at ZNY, and was informed from Bruce Barrett that the impact was a terrorist event. Barrett checked a Situational Display per Ruggeri’s request to locate AA 11, and it showed AA 11 in Whiskey 105 but on a coast track (since the computer was searching for the target, and projecting its flight path).”
The Commission Staff was never able to pin down the source of the erroneous information concerning AA 11 but estimated it was derived from conversations on the Eastern Region telecon, an unrecorded conference. Ruggeri’s mental picture of the track of AA 11 over water south of New York City supports that estimate.
Whiskey 105 is the military training area to which the Otis fighters were first vectored after takeoff. Lynn Spencer in Touching History described it as “a military airspace training area over the Atlantic just south of Long Island.”
UA 175
Shortly after 9:29, Ruggeri called IAD to inquire about UA 175. The call lasted less than a minute and IAD established that it did not have a flight plan in its computer for UA 175. That conversation can be heard at this link. 1 IAD 27 DEPARTURE DATA Ruggeri Call 175
At no time does either Eastern Region or IAD make reference to the primary only track, the “no tag,” fast approaching the nation’s capital.
Google Earth
Here is the spatial position of AA 77 at the time of the Eastern Region call. Permit me the irony to note that AA 77 flew just south of the ongoing construction of FAA’s Potomac TRACON facility; a new facility to solve known obsolescence and traffic control issues in the greater Washington DC area.
Summation
The time is now 9:30 and we have established that the primary only track later determined to be AA 77 is rapidly approaching the nation’s capital and no one has recognized the threat. We have established that FAA’s Eastern Region is collecting information. There is no evidence of awareness at any level, including the White House that AA 77 is a looming threat. At 9:30, AA 77 is 34 miles from the Pentagon, according to Google Earth.
A Preview of What’s up next
We will establish in a later article that, according to a second call to IAD, Eastern Region was in direct, near real-time contact with FAA Headquarters and was passing information along as it was received at Eastern Region. We will also establish that AA 77 is not mentioned until after Danielle O’Brien and her supervisor sound the alarm.