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Cantwell says agencies must scrutinize military flights

near

civilian plans

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FAA allows military aircraft to fly without ADS-B systems,

raising concerns

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Senator praises decision to pause some military helicopter

flights after collisison

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, Jan 30 (Reuters) - The top Democrat on the

Senate Commerce Committee said Thursday the United States needs

to reconsider the significant military helicopter flights near

one of the most congested U.S. airports after a midair collision

in Washington killed 67 people.

"The big question I have is why do you have a military

training flight so close to the route that people are supposed

to land... Why is that corridor right on top of the (civilian)

flight corridor?," said Senator Maria Cantwell in an interview.

A 2021 report said there are about 11,000 military

helicopter flights annually within 30 miles of Reagan National.

Cantwell, an author of aviation safety reform laws,

questioned the safety of military and commercial flights

separated by as little as 350 feet (107 m). "I can't imagine you

can have visual separation that close... That makes no sense."

In the deadliest U.S. air disaster in more than 20 years, a

U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines ( AAL ) passenger jet

collided on Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington

National Airport, with both aircraft plunging into the Potomac

River.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. The airport

is located in Arlington, Virginia, across the river from

Washington.

Cantwell also questioned why the Federal Aviation

Administration since 2018 has allowed military flights to fly

with their installed ADS-B equipment off.

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast is an advanced

surveillance technology to track aircraft location.

Cantwell wants more information on the agreements between

the FAA and the Pentagon that allow these flights.

"I do think the military was right to pause these flights

now," Cantwell said. "What kind of arrangements are there as

they fly into DC today?"

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the helicopter involved

in the crash had a crew of three soldiers on a "continuity of

government" training flight.

"It was a fairly experienced crew and it was doing a

required annual night evaluation," Hegseth said.

He said there appeared to have been an elevation issue with

the Black Hawk, and Army investigators were looking into the

matter.

The military said the maximum altitude for Route 4 is 200

feet (61 meters) but it may have been flying higher. The

collision occurred at an altitude of around 300 feet, according

to flight tracking website FlightRadar24.

Army secretary nominee Dan Driscoll said Thursday the

military should rethink training in congested areas.

"I think we might need to look at where is an appropriate

time to take training risk, and it may not be near an airport

like Reagan," Driscoll added.

Airspace is frequently crowded in the U.S. capital region,

home to three commercial airports and several major military

facilities, and officials have raised concerns about busy

runways at Reagan National Airport. Several near-miss incidents

at the airport have sparked alarm, including a near-collision in

May 2024.

Republican Senator Josh Hawley questioned why military

helicopter flight routes overlay commercial routes around

Washington Reagan.

"Is that really a good idea?" Hawley told Fox News Thursday.

"Do we really want all of that crowded airspace jammed in

there?"