The FAA has published its routine 52-day chart update that includes modifications to helicopter routes and zones, as well as permanent changes made after the January midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The update also includes modifications made at Washington Dulles International (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) airports.
The chart updates reflect the following improvements at DCA:
Helicopter Routes 1 and 5 remain restricted to priority aircraft – only medical, and law enforcement unless specifically authorized by air traffic control (change made immediately following the DCA midair collision).
Reduced the boundaries of Zones 1, 2, and 5.
Additional notes added to the DCA helicopter chart to improve clarity around altitude and operational instructions.
The FAA added modified routes for BWI and IAD airports that are precautionary, and will add an additional buffer between aircraft and increase separation between helicopters and airplanes operating into and out of those two airports:
Moved Route 12 at BWI North of I-95 to provide increased traffic separation for arrivals and departures at BWI.
Increased Route 7’s crossing altitude by 500 feet to increase the approved separation if an aircraft performs a go-around.
Additional actions have been taken at DCA to further support the NTSB-led investigation into the January midair collision:
Established procedures to eliminate helicopter and fixed-wing mixed traffic near the airport
Permanently closed Route 4 between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge
Revised agreements with the military to require ADS-B Out broadcasting
Discontinued take offs from the Pentagon until the FAA and Department of Defense updated procedures and fixed technical issues at the Pentagon Heliport
Eliminated the use of visual separation within 5 miles of the airport
Published modifications to helicopter zones and routes moving them farther away from flight paths at the airport
Increased support, oversight and staffing at DCA
Collaborated with industry partners and stakeholders
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ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (12.12.25)
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