FAA Moves Reagan Radios After Marine One Came Within 0.82 Miles of Envoy Jet
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 27
FAA Moves Reagan Radios After Marine One Came Within 0.82 Miles of Envoy Jet
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 27
Summary
A preliminary NTSB report found Marine One’s required Aug. 4 departure warnings to Reagan National were not received, leaving controllers unaware they should halt takeoffs before the presidential helicopter lifted off.
FAA technicians later traced the failure to inadequate line-of-sight radio coverage from the Ellipse, where Marine One was operating during White House construction, and the agency moved the helicopter-frequency radios to the top of Reagan National’s tower.
Envoy Air Flight 3742 was cleared for takeoff and came within about 0.82 nautical miles laterally and roughly 700 feet vertically of Marine One; both aircraft continued safely, and the jet’s collision system issued only a "Traffic, Traffic" alert.
The report said HMX-1 and Reagan tower staff had discussed spotty communications on July 30 and agreed on backup notification methods, but the relay attempt on Aug. 4 also failed.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said FAA officials are working with the Marine One team on telecom fixes as the NTSB continues reviewing surveillance data and has not yet determined probable cause.