U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford announced on Mar. 18 a new measure to improve safety in areas where helicopters often cross arrival and departure paths near busy airports.
The FAA has issued a general notice suspending the use of visual separation between airplanes and helicopters, requiring air traffic controllers to use radar to maintain specific lateral or vertical distances between these aircraft. This change follows a year-long review by the FAA’s safety team, which used advanced tools to analyze cross-traffic data and incident reports.
Duffy said, “The tragedy over the Potomac one year ago revealed a startling truth: years of warning signs were missed, and the FAA needed dire reform. Since then, we’ve implemented numerous changes to protect the skies over our capital and keep the traveling public safe. But the job isn’t done. Using innovative data analysis, the safety team at the FAA has identified the need for enhanced protocols at all airports across the National Airspace System. The Trump Administration will continue to act decisively to keep you and your family safe when you fly.”
Bedford said, “Today, we are proactively mitigating risks before they affect the traveling public. Following the mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), we looked at similar operations across the national airspace. We identified an overreliance on pilot ‘see and avoid’ operations that contribute to safety events involving helicopters and airplanes.”
The FAA’s data showed that visual separation was not sufficient in high-traffic areas as a safety tool. Recent incidents cited include an American Airlines flight at San Antonio International Airport narrowly avoiding a police helicopter on Feb. 27, and a Beechcraft 99 at Hollywood Burbank Airport avoiding conflict with a helicopter on March 2 after both were cleared for landing on converging paths.
The new protocol applies in Class B and Class C airspace as well as Terminal Radar Service Areas (TRSA). Helicopter operators may experience route adjustments or delays while controllers ensure safe distances from other aircraft. Urgent medical or law enforcement missions may also cause airline disruptions if priority clearance is required.
Since January 2025, several actions have been taken following a midair collision near DCA: restricting helicopter traffic over key areas, reviewing mixed-traffic airports nationwide, eliminating visual separation procedures locally, revising military agreements for better tracking technology, increasing staffing support for DCA controllers, discontinuing Pentagon heliport operations until updates are made, modifying helicopter routes away from airport flight paths, updating standard operating procedures after risk management reviews, adjusting routes at major Washington-area airports in October 2025, implementing time-based flow management systems for departures, and publishing rules permanently restricting certain helicopter operations near DCA unless essential.
These steps reflect ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address risks associated with mixed airplane-helicopter traffic around busy airports.
