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

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Jack Daleo

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

Key Takeaways:

Following a fatal midair collision, the FAA mandated immediate use of ADS-B Out transponders for all aircraft in Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) Class B airspace and admitted to missing data on previous close calls.
The NTSB revealed significant technical malfunctions in the U.S. Army Black Hawk's ADS-B Out system involved in the collision and highlighted a lack of crucial data sharing and coordination between the FAA, NTSB, and Army.
Ongoing efforts include the FAA deploying AI to identify high-risk areas at other airports and plans for air traffic control modernization, amidst calls from Senators for greater accountability, transparency, and increased resources for aviation safety agencies.

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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.