WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of key

senators on Wednesday sharply criticized provisions on military

helicopter safety in an annual defense bill released this week,

arguing it amounts to a loophole that would make U.S. skies less

safe.

Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz, a Republican,

along with the top Democrat on the panel, Maria Cantwell, and

the top senators on an aviation subcommittee, said in a joint

statement the provision "protects the status quo, allowing

military aircraft to keep flying in DC airspace under different

rules and with outdated transmission requirements... We must act

decisively to prevent future tragedies."

The senators had proposed legislation after a January 29

collision between an American Airlines ( AAL ) regional jet and

an Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people.