Federal investigation continues into deadly collision between Army helicopter and passenger plane on second day
During testimony on the second day of the National Transportation Safety Board's public inquiry into the midair collision over the Potomac River between an Army helicopter and a commercial airliner that resulted in 67 fatalities, federal investigators were informed by witnesses that concerns about military helicopter traffic over Washington had been a longstanding issue among aviators operating around the airport where the tragic incident occurred. The focus of the board's inquiry was on air traffic control, specifically the use of visual separation, a practice commonly utilized by pilots navigating the busy airspace around Ronald Reagan National Airport. Rick Dressler from Metro Aviation expressed the challenges faced by civilian helicopter pilots in identifying other aircraft in the night sky around the airport, particularly when onboard locator systems were not in use as was often the case with Army helicopters. Testimony also highlighted the concerns of helicopter operators and the FAA regarding the operational proximity of Army and Air Force helicopters to the airport. The board is working on determining the cause of the collision, with the final report expected to be released next year. The collaborative investigative efforts aim to prevent similar accidents and enhance aviation safety protocols.
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