Rep. Tom Barrett Questions DOT Sec. Sean Duffy on Aircraft Collision Avoidance Systems

Tragic Airspace Collision

• ⚠️ A tragic collision occurred in Washington D.C. airspace between a military aircraft and an American Airlines flight.
• 💡 Representative Tom Barrett introduced a bill to add collision avoidance systems to military rotary-wing aircraft, which often lack them.

System Interoperability and Prevention

• ✈️ Barrett inquired about the potential of systems like TCAS and ADS-B to prevent such accidents.
• 🎯 He suggested that while military missions require flexibility, operations like VIP transport should be scheduled at times with less civilian air traffic, such as 2 AM instead of 6 PM.
• 🤝 Secretary Duffy acknowledged the rules were too loose and welcomed the opportunity to work with Barrett on improving safety.

Deconfliction and Inter-Agency Cooperation

• 🤝 Secretary Duffy confirmed cooperation with the Secretary of Defense and other agencies.
• ✈️ He stated that the Secretary of Defense understands the priority of safety and is working towards a resolution.
• ⚠️ A recent near-miss incident of only a few hundred feet highlighted the ongoing need for deconfliction.