The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Wednesday, March 18, new safety rules for helicopters flying near major airports, which will include suspending the use of visual separation between airplanes and helicopters by air traffic controllers.
Washington, D.C., Midair Collision
The decision comes less than two months after the FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford accepted his agency’s responsibility for failures that led to the midair collision of an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter in January 2025.
The accident occurred as the passenger aircraft was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). After the airplane and the Black Hawk collided, the two fell into the Potomac River, killing all 67 people on board both aircraft.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) subsequently found that the collision had resulted from the FAA’s decision to allow helicopters to fly close to the airport without proper safeguards.
Two Near Misses
In its general notice announcing the new rules, the FAA also cited two close calls involving airplanes and helicopters.
On Feb. 27, 2026, an American Airlines aircraft and a police helicopter almost collided near the San Antonio International Airport (SAT), according to the FAA. The American Airlines Flight 1657 had been cleared to land when the helicopter was reportedly flying in the airport’s final approach path. The helicopter then made a left turn to avoid the passenger jet.
The other incident took place on March 2, when a Beechcraft 99 was similarly cleared to land at Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) while a helicopter was flying through the final approach path. The helicopter turned and avoided the collision.
New Rules Learn from “See and Avoid” Mistakes
When commenting on the new safety rules, FAA’s Bryan Bedford said in a statement:
“Following the midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA), we looked at similar operations across the national airspace. We identified an overreliance on pilot ‘see and avoid’ operations that contribute to safety events involving helicopters and airplanes.”
The general notice released on Wednesday consequently suspended the use of visual separation between airplanes and helicopters in Class B and Class C airspace, and Terminal Radar Service Areas (TRSAs). Class B airspace surrounds some of the busiest and largest U.S. airports, while Class C airspace normally surrounds busy but medium-sized airports.
In the press release by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), it was established that:
“Where helicopters cross airport arrival or departure paths, air traffic controllers will use radar to keep the aircraft specific lateral or vertical distances apart.”
The DOT statement also mentioned that the FAA had begun using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to evaluate the airports with high volumes of helicopter and airplane traffic.
What do you think of these new safety rules? Share your thoughts in the comments.
