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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is implementing measures to slow the pace of arrivals at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to reduce safety risks. The move comes in the wake of a deadly midair collision on January 29, 2025, between a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet on approach to the airport.
The incident has intensified scrutiny on the airport's operational capacity, which was a subject of heated debate just months earlier. In May 2024, Congress passed the FAA Reauthorization Act, which controversially authorized five new daily round-trip flights at the already congested airport. Proponents argued the new slots would increase competition and lower fares, while opponents, including local airport authorities and some airlines, warned that adding more traffic would strain the airport’s infrastructure and compromise safety.
Reagan National operates under some of the strictest and most complex regulations in the country due to its proximity to critical government landmarks. It is one of only a few U.S. airports subject to a federal “slot rule” that limits the number of takeoffs and landings per hour. A “perimeter rule” also restricts most nonstop flights to a 1,250-mile radius. Following the 9/11 attacks, the government instituted enhanced security procedures for operations at DCA, as it sits within the highly sensitive Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ).
To address the immediate safety concerns post-collision, the FAA will increase the required spacing between aircraft on approach to DCA. This measure is intended to provide air traffic controllers and pilots with more time to manage takeoffs and landings safely. The recent crash has brought long-standing warnings about congestion into sharp focus, prompting a re-evaluation of the balance between expanding air service and ensuring safety. The FAA's decision to slow traffic is seen as a direct response to the accident, raising questions about the future of the newly added flight slots and overall air traffic management in the capital region.
