The compromise House-Senate fiscal 2026 national defense authorization bill includes requirements and restrictions for military training flights operating in Washington airspace, but stops short of mandating National Transportation Safety Board recommendations included in a bipartisan Senate measure.
The legislation is a response to the fatal midair collision between a commercial flight and a Blackhawk Army helicopter in January. The NDAA provisions would specifically restrict military training helicopters from operating in the “special flight rules area” — a 30-mile roughly circular area surrounding the city — unless the aircraft is actively providing warning of its proximity to nearby aircraft.
But the NDAA language would allow the Defense and Transportation secretaries to waive the proximity transmission requirement in the case of national security interests or if commercial flights are found not to be at risk. They would have to give notice to Congress for waivers that last more than 30 days.
