§2654 Aircraft safety: requirements for certain highly trafficked domestic airspace

Summary

Military departments may not let manned helicopters do training flights in the Washington, DC special flight rules area unless the helicopter is actively giving warnings about its closeness to nearby commercial planes in a way that works with the commercial planes’ traffic alert and collision avoidance system. The Secretary of a military department can waive that rule only with the Transportation Secretary’s agreement, and only if the waiver is needed for national security and a commercial aviation compatibility risk assessment is done to reduce the danger. If a waiver will last more than 30 days, Congress must be told and given the assessment. The waiver power cannot be given to anyone below a general or flag officer. "Appropriate congressional committees" means the House Armed Services and House Transportation and Infrastructure committees, and the Senate Armed Services and Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation committees. "Covered airspace" means the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area as set out in 14 CFR 93.335 (or any replacement rule).