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3w ago

Hearings Confirm Black Hawk Altimeters Underreport Heights, Prompting Safety Overhaul

Sen. Ted Cruz has proposed mandatory dual ADS-B In/Out systems following NTSB confirmation of systemic helicopter safety gaps.

The National Transportation Safety Board fact-finding hearing on January's midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
A crane retrieves part of the wreckage of American Airlines flight 5342 on February 3, 2025.
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Overview

  • NTSB investigators found Black Hawk helicopters’ barometric altimeters underreport true altitude by 80 to 100 feet and verified similar errors across three additional aircraft.
  • FAA-approved routes near Reagan National Airport allow helicopters to operate within as little as 75 feet of arriving airliners, exposing minimal separation margins.
  • Separate radio frequencies for helicopters and airplanes caused stepped-on transmissions that blocked crews from hearing critical communications in the crucial minutes before the crash.
  • Many Army helicopters flew with ADS-B Out disabled or misinstalled, prompting legislation from Sen. Ted Cruz to require universal dual ADS-B In/Out systems.
  • The Army and FAA are assessing upgrades to Black Hawk models, flight corridors and air traffic control procedures to strengthen safety protocols.