FAA Announces ADS-B Out Requirement for Reagan Airport

Acting administrator Chris Rocheleau describes the measure during a Senate hearing on the NTSB’s preliminary report on January’s fatal midair collision.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 05:29 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Jack Daleo

A Black Hawk helicopter over Washington. [Credit: Nicholas Priest/U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

Following a fatal midair collision, the FAA immediately mandated ADS-B Out transponder use for all aircraft in Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) Class B airspace, a measure criticized by Senators for its exceptions and delayed implementation.
The NTSB's investigation revealed a history of "close calls" at KDCA and potential widespread ADS-B Out malfunctions in some Army helicopters, including the accident aircraft, raising concerns about equipment reliability and pre-existing risks.
The Senate hearing exposed significant fragmentation and communication breakdowns between the FAA, NTSB, and the U.S. Army regarding data access, coordination in safety working groups, and transparency of internal documents.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Acting FAA administrator Chris Rocheleau on Thursday announced new safety measures for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) in the wake of January’s fatal midair collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and commercial passenger jet, which killed 67 people.

Speaking during a Senate hearing on the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) preliminary report on the incident, Rocheleau revealed that “effective today,” the FAA will require any aircraft traveling in KDCA Class B airspace to turn on Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out transponders.