Norton Urges Department of Transportation to Prohibit Use of Helicopters for Transporting Government Officials in National Capital Region

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After receiving conflicting information from officials regarding the use of ADS-B transponders, a type of transponder used to communicate GPS data and project aircraft trajectory, in helicopter flights in the National Capital Region (NCR), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) wrote Department of Transportation (DoT) Secretary Sean Duffy on Friday urging DoT to prohibit the use of helicopters for these flights in the NCR, except for the president, vice president, and in certain emergencies. A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter from the Army Aviation Brigade at Fort Belvoir and a passenger plane collided in D.C. airspace on January 29, killing 67 people. The helicopter was not using its ADS-B transponder when the collision occurred.

"I am deeply concerned that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is granting too many exceptions to the requirement that helicopters operating near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport use ADS-B transponders," Norton said. "These transponders are critical to flight safety, particularly in crowded D.C. airspace. They broadcast several types of data to other aircraft and air traffic control, including, importantly, the state of an aircraft's navigation systems, and will automatically alert other aircraft and air traffic control towers if the aircraft is experiencing problems with its navigational systems.

"Given the tragic midair collision near DCA involving a helicopter that was not using its ADS-B transponder and many near misses, I urge you to require all helicopters operating near DCA to use ADS-B transponders, except in the case of a national security emergency or the transport of the president and vice president."

In 2023, DoD responded to an inquiry from Norton with a letterstating that the Army Aviation Brigade at Fort Belvoir executes 100% of its missions with the ADS-B transponders disabled. However, in February of this year Norton received specific reportsthat the Department of Defense (DoD) asserted that ADS-B transponders were enabled in DoD helicopter flights in the NCR. Adding to the confusion, the FAA indicated in an April meeting with Norton's office that use of the transponders would now be required for the majority of helicopter flights near DCA, with few exceptions. Finally, during a May 15 Transportation & Infrastructure Committee hearing, an FAA official responded to a question from Norton about the transponders by stating that the same categories of exceptions to the requirement before the January 29 crash still applied, indicating there had been no change in policy.

The letter follows.

May 16, 2025

The Honorable Sean Duffy

Secretary

U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave SE

Washington, DC 20590

Dear Secretary Duffy:

I am deeply concerned that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is granting too many exceptions to the requirement that helicopters operating near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) use Extended Squitter Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transponders. Yesterday, during a House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing, I asked FAA officials to clarify the agency's policy on helicopter use of ADS-B transponders near DCA. FAA Deputy Chief Operating Officer Franklin McIntosh said helicopter flights related to law enforcement, national security or the transport of government officials are not required to use ADS-B transponders near DCA. These overly broad exceptions jeopardize the safety of the airspace near DCA.

Given the tragic midair collision near DCA involving a helicopter that was not using its ADS-B transponder and many near misses, I urge you to require all helicopters operating near DCA to use ADS-B transponders, except in the case of a national security emergency or the transport of the president and vice president.

In addition, I agree with your May 2, 2025, statement on X that "Safety must ALWAYS come first. We just lost 67 souls! No more helicopter rides for VIPs or unnecessary training in a congested DCA airspace full of civilians. Take a taxi or Uber - besides most VIPs have black car service." I urge you to prohibit the use of helicopters for transporting government officials in the National Capital Region, except in the case of a national security emergency or the transport of the president and vice president.

I request a written response to this letter by May 23, 2025.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton

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