NTSB Opposes Proposed Legislation to Reduce Safety in Skies Over Washington DC

The Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Homendy, has expressed her opposition to proposed legislation that would reduce safety in the skies over Washington DC. The NTSB is concerned about the potential risks of military aircraft operating without ADS-B technology, which provides an aircraft’s location to air traffic control and other aircraft pilots. Homendy describes the proposal as a ‘significant safety setback’ and has called for greater cooperation between government agencies and industry stakeholders on aviation safety. AeroTime reports that the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has released a joint statement criticizing the inclusion of a provision in the NDAA that would allow military helicopters to operate in DC airspace under different rules and with outdated transmission requirements.