"Shameful" and scary to boot. Avoid flying into or out of Regan National Airport if you can!

Buried in the 3,000-page National Defense Authorization Act (NDDA) is a provision to open up military flight access in Washington DC's airspace with fewer tracking requirements. Specifically, the bill grants US Army helicopters nearly free rein in the airspace of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy blasted the provision "It's a safety whitewash," "If it sounds like I'm mad, I am mad. This is shameful."

This will roll back safety improvements that were recommended by the agency after the collision of a military Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, killing 67 people. https://www.npr.org/2025/12/10/nx-s1-5640050/ntsb-defense-bill-safety-concerns #NTSB #DCA #Safety #AirlineSafety #USArmy #NDAA #AviationSafety #Aircraft #WhiteWash