Risky runways: FAA investigates helicopter safety at US airports, starting with Vegas
Unsafe Aerial Situation Identified at Las Vegas Airport, According to Inspection
A deadly collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., in January has spurred the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to take a hard look at helicopter safety at the busiest airports in the United States.
The FAA unveiled a review into helicopter safety on Tuesday, admitting that Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport came under the spotlight due to the collision risk between air tour choppers and airplanes in Sin City. Swift action from the authorities has led to a drastic 30% drop in "collision alerts" for flights in the area.
Former National Transportation Safety Board and FAA Accident Investigator Jeff Guzzetti commented that the sudden drop in Las Vegas collision alerts in just three weeks suggests "a real hazard existed before the FAA looked at this."
FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau revealed that Las Vegas came up as a major concern during the review. He stated that the FAA found a lack of clarity regarding "vertical and lateral separation requirements" when helicopters were approaching the international airport. He went on to say that air traffic controllers at Harry Reid weren't issuing traffic advisories between helicopters and airplanes, leading to non-compliance with Class B separation rules.
To address this issue, the FAA has taken immediate action at Las Vegas and other airports with similar concerns, including exercising positive control over helicopters while providing more traffic advisories to pilots in and out of the city.
Guzzetti pointed out that it makes sense for the FAA to focus on Las Vegas with its high volume of helicopters and commercial flights, referring to potential issues that might be found at other airports. He said, "I think they will find issues at other airports, but maybe not to the degree that they found with this one."
The FAA is also employing artificial intelligence to analyze incident reports and identify potential risk areas across the country, including the Gulf Coast. The agency is poised to address safety concerns in these airports as they are discovered.
FAA's proactive response to the collision has earned praises from aviation lawyers. Robert Clifford, who represents families of victims of the January collision with the Black Hawk helicopter, commended the FAA for stepping up its efforts to safeguard travelers. He said, "The FAA deserves recognition for taking these steps to protect the traveling public." Clifford added, "The extra vigilance by the FAA may save many lives."
- The FAA, in response to the collision between an aircraft and a helicopter in Las Vegas, has revealed a lack of clarity regarding vertical and lateral separation requirements when helicopters approach Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport.
- Jeff Guzzetti, former National Transportation Safety Board and FAA Accident Investigator, comments on the sudden drop in Las Vegas collision alerts, suggesting "a real hazard existed before the FAA looked at this."
- Aviation lawyers have praised the FAA's proactive response to the collision, with Robert Clifford, who represents families of victims, commending the FAA for its efforts to protect travelers, stating, "The extra vigilance by the FAA may save many lives."
