Tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk has pledged to update America’s air traffic control systems in the wake of the deadly D.C. air collision, but some lawmakers are concerned his team doesn’t understand what they’re dealing with.

Washington

A regional jet carrying 64 people collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Reagan National Airport near Washington, DC.

D.C. Crash

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has pledged to address shortcomings in the United States' air traffic control systems following a tragic collision involving a passenger jet and a military helicopter over Washington's busy airspace. The crash resulted in 67 fatalities and prompted renewed scrutiny of the technological infrastructure. Senator Ted Cruz noted that one of the Blackhawk helicopter's key safety systems, ADS-B, was inexplicably turned off during the training mission, raising additional safety concerns.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has yet to release its final report on the incident, but the preliminary findings have reignited debates over the obsolescence of many Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) technologies. A safety report from earlier in the year highlighted the aging status of these systems, some of which are so outdated that spare parts can no longer be sourced. Musk, known for innovation in technology, is aiming to make rapid improvements to these systems through his team handling governmental inefficiencies.

However, the idea of Musk spearheading these changes is met with skepticism. Critics question the readiness and capability of Musk's team, which is characterized as relatively young, to manage the complexities of the air traffic control system. Existing regulations require thorough validation to ensure safe integration of new technology in aviation, and experts stress that this process cannot be expedited. Meanwhile, the FAA has temporarily banned helicopter flights over the Potomac near Washington National Airport as a precautionary measure, signaling immediate steps to enhance air safety.



Elon Musk vows to fix U.S. air traffic control after D.C. crash

Under a gloomy sky, crews secure the last of the wreckage from the Potomac. It's been one week since the passenger jet and military chopper collided over Washington's packed airspace. In an instant, 67 lives lost. After a morning briefing, Senator Ted Cruz told reporters one of the Blackhawks key safety systems was apparently turned off. This was a training mission so there was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off. Officials also believe the chopper's pilots were wearing night vision goggles. The NTSB's final report is nowhere near complete but in the information vacuum, concerns have been renewed about America's air traffic control systems. Elon Musk, promising his Doge team handling government deficiency will aim to make rapid safety upgrades to the air traffic control system. It's not a new problem. A blistering 2023 safety report noted that many FAA systems are so old it is no longer able to obtain spare parts for them. But the idea of Musk modernizing the system is proving controversial. I have significant concerns about Elon Musk and his 27-year-old hackers digging into the air traffic control system. There are strict standards for aviation systems set by the International Civil Aviation Organization. Changes to those complex systems, says this professor, are not something you can rush. Regulatory systems are in place in order to ensure that nothing is integrated into aviation until it has been validated and there's evidence to show that it can be done so safely. For now, the FAA has banned helicopters from flying over the Potomac near DCA until the end of March. A notification that went out through another of its aging systems that crashed over the weekend. A short bid to make these skies more safe. Katie Nicholson, CBC News, Toronto.

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D.C. Crash