In the dark evening hours of Jan. 29, a tragic crash above the Potomac River illuminated serious flaws in aviation safety. Flying remains the safest means of transportation, but the deadly collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter was a sobering reminder that air travel is still vulnerable to fatal mishaps.
I piloted helicopters in the Army, including Black Hawks, such as the one involved in the tragedy. So in my new role as a member of Congress, I took the crash as a personal call to action. Congress is not known for taking timely action, but on the night of the crash, I was already communicating with some of the best pilots I knew to get their insight and advice. Less than a year later, the bill I introduced to start the process of equipping military helicopters with crash avoidance technology has become law. With President Donald Trump’s signature, my bill will not only help make our skies safer, but it will also show that the people’s representatives can work together to address serious matters.
