§2654 Aircraft Safety: Requirements for Certain Highly Trafficked Domestic Airspace

Summary

Military departments must not let manned helicopters fly training missions inside certain busy Washington-area airspace unless the helicopter is actively sending warnings that work with commercial planes’ Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). A military Secretary can only waive that ban if the Secretary of Transportation agrees, the waiver is needed for U.S. national security, and a commercial aviation compatibility risk assessment was 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 defined in 14 CFR 93.335 (or any successor rule).