WASHINGTON, March 14 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation

Administration said Friday it is imposing permanently

restrictions on non-essential helicopter operations around

Washington Reagan National Airport and eliminating helicopter

and passenger jet mixed traffic.

The FAA is permanently closing one key route and evaluating

alternative helicopter routes after the National Transportation

Safety Board this week made two urgent safety recommendations

following the Jan. 29 mid-air collision of an American Airlines ( AAL )

regional jet and an Army helicopter that killed 67

people.

The FAA will also prohibit use of two smaller runways at the

airport when helicopters conducting urgent missions are

operating near the airport.