Army Helicopter ADS-B Signal Issues: Senate Hearing Questions

ADS-B Signal Inquiry

• ❓ Senator Jerry Moran questioned why the helicopter involved in a lethal DCA crash was not emitting an ADS-B signal.
• 💡 The NTSB was seeking information on who participates in the working group investigating the incident.

Army and FAA Collaboration

• 🤝 The Army confirmed its participation in the working group, which includes 17 entities, though not all are verified.
• ✈️ The FAA is in charge of the working group, and the Army operates entirely under FAA authority.
• 🚫 There was no immediate reason given why the NTSB would be restricted from receiving information.

Helicopter Fleet Analysis

• 🚁 The Army is investigating the installation, programming, and potential equipment malfunction of ADS-B out systems.
• ⚠️ For the accident helicopter, no ADS-B data had been received from an FAA ground station for 730 days prior to the accident, which was considered abnormal.
• 📊 Of the battalion's 25 helicopters, nine were newer models and all transmitted ADS-B out when turned on.
• 📉 Sixteen were older models, including the accident helicopter; seven transmitted when ADS-B out was turned on, while eight stopped transmitting between May and November 2023.
• 🛠️ Five of the non-transmitting helicopters have since started transmitting after the NTSB identified the issue.

ADS-B Functionality and Policy

• 📡 ADS-B out broadcasts latitude, longitude, altitude, and velocity once per second, updating faster than radar.
• ✈️ The FAA announced a policy change requiring ADS-B out immediately for the DC class B airspace.
• 🌍 This requirement is being considered for other areas with problematic mixed traffic, with careful and intentional action being taken for different airspaces.
• ⚠️ The FAA will mitigate risks wherever they are found.