A federal review by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has focused on helicopter safety after a midair collision in Washington, D.C., leading to immediate actions concerning airspace management around Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. This review identified significant concerns regarding potential conflicts between air tour helicopters and planes in this area. In response, the FAA implemented new restrictions on helicopter flights, resulting in a 30% reduction in collision alerts over a recent three-week period.
Following the collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter in January, the FAA decided to employ artificial intelligence to analyze its extensive data on helicopter traffic across various cities, including Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. The findings highlighted Las Vegas as a priority due to ambiguous agreements with helicopter operators lacking clear vertical and lateral separation guidelines. Additionally, air traffic controllers were not providing sufficient traffic advisories between helicopters and airplanes.
The FAA’s acting administrator, Chris Rocheleau, stated that immediate measures were taken, such as increasing control over helicopter operations and enhancing traffic advisories for pilots. These efforts have successfully reduced the number of traffic alerts and collision avoidance system reports, demonstrating a significant improvement in airspace safety around the Las Vegas airport.