Following a thorough federal review of helicopter safety around busy U.S. airports, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has identified critical safety issues at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. This review was prompted by a tragic midair collision in January involving a passenger jet and an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., which claimed the lives of 67 individuals.
In light of these findings, the FAA announced immediate regulatory changes aimed at mitigating the risk of collisions between air tour helicopters and conventional aircraft at the Las Vegas airport. Remarkably, in the first three weeks after these new rules were implemented, the number of collision alerts for planes decreased by 30%.
The FAA’s acting administrator, Chris Rocheleau, emphasized the urgency of the situation, revealing that the agency’s analysis revealed a lack of clearly defined vertical and lateral separation requirements for helicopters approaching the airport. Additionally, air traffic controllers were not providing adequate traffic advisories to pilots concerning the interactions between returning helicopters and airplanes.
In a bid to enhance safety protocols, Rocheleau stated, “We took quick action including exercising positive control over the helicopters and issuing more traffic advisories to pilots.” He expressed a commitment to ongoing evaluations of Las Vegas and other airports where similar issues might be present.
The FAA’s increased scrutiny of helicopter operations comes on the heels of a series of tragedies that have raised public safety concerns, including the fatal crash of a New York City sightseeing helicopter into the Hudson River, which resulted in six fatalities in April. As a response to the growing number of incidents, the FAA announced it would establish a rulemaking committee focused on improving commercial air tour safety across the board.
Former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FAA accident investigator Jeff Guzzetti pointed out that the rapid decline in collision alerts after FAA intervention indicates a significant pre-existing hazard. “It’s tough to characterize how significant the hazard was,” he acknowledged, “but it’s yet another hole in the Swiss cheese that can line up with other holes and cause an accident just like what happened in Washington, D.C.”
Guzzetti underscored the importance of the FAA’s focus on Las Vegas, given its dense mix of helicopter and commercial traffic. He speculated that other airports might present safety concerns, though perhaps not to the same extent as those observed in Las Vegas.
Former NTSB Chairman Jim Hall echoed concerns regarding the safety of the helicopter tour industry, describing it as often prioritizing entertainment over safety. “Unfortunately in aviation, it is accidents that bring the attention of the regulators to their responsibilities,” he said.
The January collision near Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport marked a turning point as it became the deadliest aviation disaster in the United States since 2001. Following this incident, a string of other aircraft crashes and near misses have amplified concerns surrounding air travel safety, despite the overall safety record of the aviation sector remaining strong.
Rocheleau highlighted that although helicopter operations have been of particular concern, the core safety issues contributing to accidents predominantly stem from operational and maintenance inadequacies. He identified loss of control and collisions with objects during low-altitude operations as the primary causes of helicopter accidents.
The FAA’s review is not limited to helicopters; it has expanded its focus to include airports with various aircraft types and those situated in close proximity to one another. For instance, the close distance between Hollywood Burbank Airport and Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles has raised alarms due to their less-than-10-mile proximity and frequent aircraft mix.
When inquired about the findings, a spokesperson for Hollywood Burbank Airport deferred questions to the FAA, while Van Nuys Airport had yet to respond.
Rocheleau emphasized the commitment to continuous improvement: “While flying remains the safest mode of transportation, we must always strive to do better. We have to identify trends and get smarter about how we use data. And when we put corrective actions in place, we must execute them.”
In a notable acknowledgment, aviation lawyer Robert Clifford, representing the families of victims involved in the Washington, D.C. plane crash, lauded the FAA for its proactive measures to enhance helicopter safety. “As a frequent critic of the FAA, I must say that the FAA deserves recognition for taking these steps to protect the traveling public,” he remarked. “Helicopters are known for being the most dangerous and potentially unsafe aircraft. The extra vigilance by the FAA may save many lives.”
image source from：https://apnews.com/article/air-safety-las-vegas-faa-washington-collision-9bccb71fc4eb75d146fe178f3538dc21
