In the wake of a devastating midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken the extraordinary step of issuing an urgent safety recommendation.
This measure, part of an active investigation, directly targets helicopter operations in the airport’s vicinity, citing a critical safety hazard.
NTSB: Washington DCA Safety Recommendation
The NTSB’s primary concern revolves around the potential for catastrophic midair collisions, particularly when specific runways are in use at DCA.
To address this, they’ve formally requested the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to impose a permanent ban on helicopter traffic during arrivals and departures on runways 15 and 33.
Additionally, the NTSB proposes the establishment of an alternative flight path for helicopters, aiming to minimize disruption while ensuring safety.
This emergency recommendation stems from a tragic incident on January 29th. A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, flying at night within a designated FAA corridor, collided with a PSA Airlines regional jet approaching DCA’s Runway 33.
The collision resulted in the tragic loss of 67 lives, a stark reminder of the potential consequences of airspace conflicts.
Central to the NTSB’s findings is the dangerously limited vertical separation between helicopters and aircraft on approach.
Minimum Separation Between Helicopters & Fixed-Wing Aircraft
Their 10-page report reveals that helicopters operating at the maximum allowed altitude of 200 feet could have as little as 75 feet of vertical separation from landing airliners.
This critical lack of separation, the NTSB argues, is further exacerbated by factors such as a helicopter’s proximity to the Potomac River. Furthermore, any deviations below the standard glide path by approaching aircraft would further decrease this slim vertical separation margin.
Comments by Aviation Experts
The NTSB’s urgent recommendation has elicited strong reactions from aviation safety experts. Mary Schiavo, a Motley Rice aviation attorney and former Inspector General of the U.S. DOT,, emphasized the unusual nature of this pre-investigation action.
“It’s rare for the NTSB to issue an emergency recommendation before completing its investigation,” Schiavo noted. She highlighted the alarming statistic of over 15,000 near misses between helicopters and commercial aircraft between 2021 and 2024, data readily available to the FAA.
Schiavo also pointed out the high proportion of incidents occurring at night and the fact that conflict alerts were clearly audible in the air traffic control tower just seconds before the fatal collision.
Brian Alexander, Partner at Kreindler & Kreindler, represents families of the victims of the American flight. He echoed the sentiment that systemic failures contributed to the tragedy. Alexander argued that the collision was not an isolated event but a symptom of broader issues within the aviation safety system.
He pointed to long-standing concerns about the FAA’s oversight of air traffic control, including staffing shortages and training deficiencies. He stated that experts had warned of these dangers for years, and the January collision was a tragic confirmation of those warnings.
The NTSB’s analysis of available data revealed a disturbing pattern of close calls, with thousands of instances of insufficient separation between commercial and military aircraft at DCA.
The board documented an average of two near-collisions per month over the past three years, underscoring the urgency of their recommendation.
Conclusion
This intervention by the NTSB highlights a critical need for enhanced safety measures in the airspace surrounding one of the nation’s busiest airports.
The FAA’s response which will be crucial in addressing the identified risks and restoring confidence in the safety of air travel in the Washington D.C. region.
