- Author experienced severe depression in early 2026, delaying work on the Potomac midair article until late April.
- The article is the longest ever by the author, expected to be around 50,000 words (over 90 pages), characterized as a long-form essay rather than a book.
- Research involved reading the NTSB report, 27 hours of hearing footage, traffic data analysis, and compiling 62 pages of notes from 42 sources.
- The writing process included drafting nine chapters with color-coded notes, inline citations, and daily averages of 1,500 words, with editing and expert review planned.
- The article covers wide-ranging topics: slot control politics, DCA tower safety culture, military aviator experience decline, and evidence not widely reported.
- A teaser introduction sets the scene of the January 2025 Potomac midair collision, framing it as an accident many saw coming due to systemic dysfunction.