What Happened
New Rule Requires Radar Separation For Air Traffic Control
The Federal Aviation Administration has announced a new rule that will require air traffic controllers to use radar to separate airplane and helicopter traffic near major airport arrival and departure tracks. The change comes after a deadly midair crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport exposed risks in visual-only systems. According to the FAA, the new rule aims to proactively mitigate risks before they affect the traveling public. The National Transportation Safety Board had previously identified an overreliance on pilot ‘see and avoid’ operations as a contributing factor to safety events involving helicopters and airplanes. This development was first reported by Unknown Source.