FAA officials are preparing antenna relocations, stronger communications measures, revised procedures and additional training after a Marine One safety incident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. The changes are aimed at reducing radio interference and preventing a repeat of the close call involving the presidential helicopter and commercial traffic.
The planned fixes follow a review of a momentary loss of separation last week, when a departing passenger aircraft was reportedly allowed to move while Marine One was preparing to take off. Federal aviation authorities are expected to move air-traffic control antennas and tighten operating procedures so controllers clear commercial traffic before presidential helicopter departures.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has also been working on telecom issues raised by the incident, while the Department of Transportation has been expanding training for thousands of air traffic controllers. The episode has drawn attention to the complexity of mixed helicopter and jet operations in the airspace around Reagan National, where communications reliability is critical for presidential movement and routine commercial services alike.