Safety concerns uncovered at Las Vegas airport following review into Washington midair collision
Potential safety issues at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport have been uncovered by a federal review into the January mid-air crash between a military helicopter and a passenger jet in Washington, D.C.
Potential safety issues at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport have been uncovered by a federal review into the January mid-air crash between a military helicopter and a passenger jet in Washington, D.C.
All 64 people on board American Airlines Flight 5342 to Reagan Washington National Airport and the three on the Black Hawk helicopter died in the deadliest air disaster in the United States since 2001, which triggered a nationwide review of "hotspot" airports with mixed air traffic. Administrators say they took immediate action after reviewing the situation in Las Vegas.
Local helicopter companies were previously instructed to avoid airplane arrival and departure corridors, but these areas lacked vertical and lateral measurements, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Additionally, tower controllers did not issue traffic advisories between returning tourist helicopter trips and the arrival or departure of planes.
"We took quick action, including exercising positive control over the helicopters and issuing more traffic advisories to pilots. As a result, the number of traffic alert and collision avoidance system reports decreased by 30 percent in just three weeks," Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said.
More action is planned at more airports in and around Las Vegas, as well as in other locations. These include Hollywood Burbank Airport and Van Nuys Airport in the greater LA area, which are 10 miles apart and "each serve a wide mix of aircraft, and they have closely spaced arrival and departure paths," Rocheleau said.
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