FAQs on Midair Collision at Reagan Washington National Airport
FAA investigators are supporting the NTSB-led investigation of Wednesday night’s midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport. The NTSB is leading the investigation and will provide all updates. We cannot comment on any aspect of open investigations. The FAA will quickly take any actions necessary based on evidence from the investigation.
Please note:
- Questions about subjects such as the number of controllers on duty, the controller handling the aircraft, interpretations of the air traffic control audio, and the flight paths of the aircraft are all part of the ongoing investigation.
- Questions about the search effort and identities of passengers should be posed to local authorities.
- The latest statements on the incident can be found in the FAA Newsroom.
The FAA has standard routes into and out of airports that keep arriving and departing aircraft, and different types of aircraft, safely separated. We also have advanced runway safety technology at the busiest airports, and airliners have on-board collision-avoidance systems.
DCA has defined route and zone structures for helicopters that integrate those operations with fixed wing traffic and in secure airspace. The air traffic facility controls frequent Presidential and Vice-Presidential helicopter missions. In addition, they work closely with law enforcement and the military on special missions.
DCA uses a variety of surveillance technology, including Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS), Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE-X), Certified Tower Radar Display (CTRD).
Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) -
- Single, digital platform installed at Towers and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACONs) for air traffic control.
- Capable of tracking all aircraft within the defined airspace using information from available FAA and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) surveillance systems and flight information
- Deployed to Potomac TRACON and DCA, February 2017—Hardware and software updates have continuously occurred throughout the years.
Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X):
- Runway safety tool that enables air traffic controllers to detect potential runway conflicts by providing detailed coverage of movement on runways and taxiways.
- Collects data from a variety of sources, to track vehicles and aircraft on airport surfaces and obtain identification information from aircraft transponders.
- Deployed to DCA, July 2010 - Hardware and software (including safety logic) updates have continuously occurred throughout the years
Yes, all transport category aircraft – the kind used in scheduled airline operations - must have TCAS.
TCAS queries transponders of other nearby aircraft to determine if a conflict is likely to occur. Nearby aircraft are displayed to the pilots and TCAS can issue evasive instructions, called ‘resolution advisories’ (RAs), instructing pilots to climb or descend. Below 1,000 feet altitude, TCAS RAs are inhibited. More information is available here.
DCA’s staffing target is 28 Certified Professional Controllers (CPCs). Currently there are 25 CPCs and 3 CPC-In Training, who were previously fully certified at other facilities.
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Be able to speak English clearly.
- Be younger than 31-years-old before the closing date of the application period (with limited exceptions).
- Have either three years of general work experience or four years of education leading to a bachelor’s degree, or a combination of both.
- Pass a medical examination, security investigation and FAA air traffic pre-employment test.
- Have no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of a psychosis, a neurosis or any personality or mental disorder that clearly demonstrates a potential hazard to safety in the air traffic control system.
- They must demonstrate distant and near vision of 20/20 or better in each eye separately with additional instructions for those who wear glasses.
- Have no medical history of any form of heart disease or of the nervous system.
- No deformity of spine or limbs of sufficient degree to interfere with satisfactory and safe performance of duty. No absence of any extremity or digit or any portion thereof sufficient to interfere with the requirements for locomotion and manual dexterity of the position being sought.
- They must be able to endure long periods of standing or sitting.
The FAA recruits applicants for Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) positions from multiple hiring sources. Each hiring source has requirements that applicants must meet for eligibility. These hiring sources include the Air Traffic – Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) and the new Enhanced AT-CTI. AT-CTI graduates receive specialized education in air traffic control (ATC). Other sources are the general public, where no prior ATC education or experience is required, and experienced or former military controllers. CTI and general public applicants must pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA), an entry-level employment aptitude assessment consisting of multiple subtests designed to assess the majority of skills and attributes necessary to be successful as an air traffic controller at the FAA. They must also complete the required medical and security clearances before being offered employment.
AT-CTI graduates and applicants from the general public begin their training at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for approximately 16 weeks. Once they successfully complete that training, they are assigned to a facility where they continue to train for 2-4 years or more, depending on the facility. Enhanced AT-CTI graduates and experienced controllers go directly to a facility and begin training.
Air travel is the safest mode of transportation. The FAA will quickly take any actions necessary based on evidence from the investigation of Wednesday’s accident at DCA.