The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is intensifying efforts to increase aviation safety in the wake of the fatal collision in Washington DC this year, shifting its focus on to Las Vegas.
A general focus has recently been placed on addressing conflicts between helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, particularly around high-traffic airports.
The tragic midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport on 29 January was the catalyst, with the FAA permanently restricting non-essential helicopter operations and eliminating mixed traffic in that airspace.
This incident highlighted the risks of helicopters and airplanes sharing crowded skies, leading the FAA to analyze “hotspot” airports nationwide. This week, the FAA announced its shift to addressing safety issues around Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.
Critical Safety Issues in Las Vegas
Using advanced machine learning and language modeling, the FAA is scanning incident reports and mining data to identify risk patterns. In assessing Las Vegas data, the agency uncovered critical issues.
This included vague agreements with local helicopter operators that fail to define vertical or lateral separation from airplane corridors.
Additionally, tower controllers were not issuing traffic advisories between air tour helicopters and arriving or departing planes, violating Class B separation rules.
The FAA implemented positive control over helicopters and increasing traffic advisories. Within three weeks, these measures reduced traffic alert and collision avoidance system reports by 30 percent, demonstrating immediate impact.
Further Airports in the Spotlight
The agency is examining traffic flows around closely spaced airports like Hollywood Burbank and Van Nuys in Los Angeles. These are less than 10 miles apart and handle diverse aircraft types with overlapping flight paths.
These efforts aim to mitigate risks from mixed operations, including faster and slower airplanes and varying flight purposes.
Rotorcraft Safety Roundtable Discussion
A recent rotorcraft safety roundtable brought together FAA experts, rotorcraft operators, and safety organizations to discuss these challenges.
Participants proposed actionable solutions, such as expanding peer pilot programs and standardizing FAA inspector training for Safety Management Systems (SMS).
Also under discussion was the possible leveraging of aircraft technology and simulation. Other suggestions included expanding the FAA’s weather camera system and developing more Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) routes for safer low-altitude helicopter navigation.
These collaborative forum formats will very likely continue, with similar events planned for general aviation and airlines.
While addressing mixed traffic is critical, the FAA recognizes that core rotorcraft safety issues require ongoing attention. These include loss of control, low-altitude collisions, and flights into adverse weather.
Conclusion
The FAA has formed an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to develop recommendations for improving commercial air tour safety, as mandated by the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act.
This committee, comprising manufacturers, operators, and safety experts, will meet starting May 20, 2025, with recommendations due by September.
The recent Hudson River helicopter crash further emphasized the need for continuous safety improvements.
The FAA’s approach is backed by Transportation Secretary Duffy and the current administration, Essentially, it leverages data-driven insights and stakeholder collaboration to reduce risks.
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