By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The leading Senate Democrat on the aviation oversight committee has called on the Pentagon to explain its decision not to utilize a crucial safety system during routine military helicopter flights in the Washington, D.C. area following a tragic accident. A U.S. Army helicopter, which collided with an American Airlines regional jet in January near Reagan Airport, resulting in 67 fatalities, was not transmitting ADS-B signals.
Senator Maria Cantwell, in a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, expressed skepticism regarding the Pentagon’s justification for exempting several thousand helicopter flights annually in the National Capital Region from the requirement of activating ADS-B Out. Cantwell, who is a member of the Commerce Committee, emphasized that the exemption granted to the military for rare circumstances in 2019 exceeded the intended scope, potentially compromising aviation safety.
The Pentagon has yet to provide a response to these concerns. Airlines for America, a U.S. airline trade organization, has also advocated for military aircraft to be mandated to use ADS-B in proximity to major airports. Additionally, they have recommended that the FAA suspend certain helicopter routes near the Washington airport, except for essential military or medical flights.
Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican heading the Commerce Committee, previously stated that there was no significant national security rationale for deactivating ADS-B during the January incident, as the Army helicopter was engaged in a training exercise.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and Cynthia Osterman)
