The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to announce a reduction of traffic at the Reagan National Airport, in the aftermath of the deadly collision between an American Airlines commercial aircraft and a military helicopter on 29 January.
Although no official announcement has been made yet, Reuters reports the agency sent an email to airlines operating at the airport informing them that the number of arrivals per hour would be reduced from a maximum of 28 to 26, which “will reduce risk and allow a little space for extra coordination.”
It is not yet clear weather the reduction of arrival slots will be implemented by cancelling certain routes, however, if it does not, it is expected the average delays at the airport will increase from 40 to 50 minutes. Just 10 more minutes over a 40-minute delay is an insignificant price to pay for the increased safety, considering the email said investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) “have expressed concern for our tower personnel on duty, who have an increased level of stress while also having a front row view of the accident recovery.”
There is no indication yet as to how long arrivals would be restricted at the airport, but, in the meantime, an FAA spokesperson has said traffic is already reduced due to weather conditions and recovery efforts in the area.
Until aircraft movement is officially restricted at the airport, helicopter traffic has already been restricted in the area over the Potomac River around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and stretching to Wilson Bridge. “Today’s decision will immediately help secure the airspace near Reagan Airport, ensuring the safety of airplane and helicopter traffic,” US Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, said on 31 January.
The restriction exempts helicopters entering this airspace for lifesaving medical support, active law enforcement, active air defence or presidential transport helicopter missions that must operate in the restricted area. Any helicopter operations outside the exemptions will be prohibited.
“This is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding our nation’s skies and upholding the highest standards of air travel safety. We will continue to support President Trump’s directive to achieve uncompromised aviation safety. The American people deserve full confidence in our aviation system and today’s action is a significant step towards restoring that trust,” Duffy added.
The helicopter restrictions will remain in place until the NTSB completes its preliminary investigation of the air carrier incident at which point it will be reviewed based on NTSB’s report.
