Ten House Democrats called on the Pentagon to reduce air traffic near Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) after a deadly January midair collision between an Army helicopter and a passenger plane killed all 67 people on board.
The lower chamber Democrats, led by Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Defense Department (DOD) to permanently lower “significant” air traffic within the area around DCA.
The lawmakers also asked federal agencies to create an alternative route for helicopters that would prevent redirecting traffic over residential areas in the vicinity, review the existing volume in and out of DCA, and that the DOD require pilots within the region of the airport to use ADS-B Out, a tracking system.
“We believe that decreasing the volume of helicopter traffic in the region would alleviate congestion in the airspace and an overburdened air traffic system, and prevent potential conflicts derived from redirected aircraft,” the lawmakers said in the Friday letter.
Just over a week ago, the FAA said it would permanently restrict “non-essential” helicopter operations around DCA. The change came after the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) report, released days earlier, found there have been thousands of close calls between planes and helicopters near DCA in the last three years.
The FAA said it would permanently shut down Route 4 intended for helicopters. It is a four mile stretch between Wilson Bridge and Hains Point. If a helicopter needs to pass through the airspace in emergency situations, including presidential transport or law enforcement efforts, the FAA would ensure that helicopters would still be away from planes, according to the FAA.
The use of runways 15/33 and 4/22 at DCA are also prohibited when helicopters are completing a vital mission in the vicinity.
“We request that FAA conduct a review of Routes 1 and 4 over the river, and all helicopter routes in the National Capital Region with a specific focus on lateral dimensions,” the 10 House lawmakers wrote in the letter.
Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who heads the aviation subcommittee, and Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will have a March 27 hearing to examine the a NTSB report about the incident. They have called three witnesses — FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and Army Aviation Director Brig. Gen. Matthew Braman.
“At best, we’re in a situation where we’re threading the needle allowing helicopters to fly down the same airspace as landing aircraft,” Department of Transportation Secretary Duffy said earlier this month. “And why this information wasn’t studied and known before Jan. 29 is an important question.”
The Friday letter, apart from Beyer, was signed by Democratic Reps. André Carson (Ind.), Gerry Connolly (Va.), Steny Hoyer (Md.), Glenn Ivey (Md.), April McClain Delaney (Md.), Jennifer McClellan (Va.), Jamie Raskin (Md.), Suhas Subramanyam (Va.), and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.).
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