Photo credit: www.cbsnews.com

FAA Considers Runway Closure at Reagan National After Near Misses

High-ranking officials at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including then-Administrator Michael Whitaker, actively sought to close one of the three runways at Washington’s Reagan National Airport last summer due to growing safety concerns from two separate near-miss incidents between airliners on the ground, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.

The push for the closure of Runway 4 followed alarming incidents; the first occurred on April 18, when a Southwest Airlines flight on its way to Orlando came dangerously close to colliding with a JetBlue flight that was cleared for takeoff on the same runway. Air traffic controllers intervened just in time, averting a potential disaster as the aircraft were within approximately 300 feet of one another.

Just over a month later, on May 29, another serious situation unfolded involving American Airlines Flight 2134, which had been cleared for takeoff to Boston. The takeoff had to be aborted when controllers realized that a private King Air aircraft was cleared to land on an intersecting runway directly in its path. Emergency instructions were issued to the American flight, which was already accelerating to about 92 mph, but the King Air had already completed its landing, narrowly avoiding further complications.

The proposal to close the runway drew resistance, with critics arguing that it would create added pressure on Runway 33. This runway was notably involved in a recent tragic collision between an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter, which resulted in the deaths of 67 individuals. Opponents of the runway closure have pointed out that closing Runway 4 could exacerbate congestion and operational challenges, as noted in an impact statement reviewed by CBS News.

The FAA confirmed that it acted following the May incident by pausing operations on Runway 4 on May 31, 2024, to further assess the complexities posed by the airport’s multiple intersecting runways. This runway, designated primarily for smaller regional aircraft, typically requires heightened coordination with air traffic control due to its limited use, resulting in only 20% of the airport’s daily departures being eligible to utilize it.

Reagan National Airport has three runways in play, as indicated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. The primary Runway 1/19 measures 7,169 feet, while the secondary Runway 15/33 is 5,204 feet long, and Runway 4/22 is the shortest at 5,000 feet.

The question of air traffic congestion has been a persistent issue at Reagan National, particularly after local lawmakers, including Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, expressed their concerns about increasing flight capacities last year. Despite these apprehensions, Congress has moved forward with plans to add five more long-distance flights, enticing additional traffic at the already capacity-restrained airport.

Terry Liercke, a vice president with the airport authority, emphasized that while safety remains a top priority for operations at Reagan, the authority adheres strictly to FAA regulations. The airport operates under a capacity control system, meaning each takeoff or landing slot must be federally approved. Since 2000, 64 additional slots have been granted, allowing for an increase of 32 potential flight routes each day.

Reagan National’s history of air traffic safety and operational complexity continues to challenge officials as they strive to ensure the safety of air travel while considering the implications of increased capacity and traffic flow.

Source
www.cbsnews.com