The tragic midair collision between a commercial airliner and a military helicopter near Washington D.C. has once again thrust aviation safety into the spotlight. As we grapple with the loss of 67 lives in this devastating accident, it is crucial to examine the broader implications for airspace safety, the significance of international standards in preventing such disasters and the critical role the United States’ (U.S.) must continue to play in forging those standards – especially as airspace becomes more crowded with new entrants.
A Collision Course with Danger
On that fateful night of January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342, carrying 64 passengers and crew, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, carrying 3 soldiers, over the Potomac River. The tragedy unfolded in one of the most heavily regulated airspaces in the world and raised alarming questions about the effectiveness of current safety protocols.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the complexities involved in managing crowded airspaces, especially in areas where civilian and military aircraft operate in close proximity. It also underscores the urgent need for robust, internationally recognized standards that can ensure the safety of all air traffic.
The incident also highlights a looming challenge in modern aviation that we must confront: the airspace congestion that is set to intensify in the coming years with the introduction of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). These aircraft will radically change modern transportation. They also bring with them unprecedented challenges for airspace management. Without the appropriate leadership in the development of aviation standards, these advancements could increase the risks of accidents, as well as the potential for midair collisions.
Preparing for a Crowded Sky
As eVTOLs and UAS stand ready to enter mainstream markets, from commuter transport to parcel delivery use cases, their integration into national and global airspace is not merely a matter of adding new vehicles to an already established system; it is about creating entirely new frameworks that can manage potentially thousands of new entrants into the skies at any given time.
As these new entrants become an integral part of the modern aviation landscape, the need for a unified global framework to ensure their safe and efficient integration is more urgent than ever. Why? Because the integration of new aircraft into current airspace management systems in national and global airspace could overwhelm them. This would increase the likelihood of accidents and collisions.
In this context, UAS Traffic Management (UTM) and urban air mobility (UAM) systems, and related beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) standards, become paramount. UTM, digital infrastructure, enables UAS to coexist safely with traditional manned aviation, particularly in urban and congested airspace. UTM systems handle flight planning, real-time monitoring, collision avoidance and coordination among all relevant aircraft.
UAM will provide the necessary structure to manage the growing volume of eVTOL flights in urban environments. These systems must be capable of monitoring, guiding and managing the flow of air traffic.
Future BVLOS operations, which will involve increasingly automated systems traveling long distances, will impact UTM and UAM for obvious reasons: shared airspace.
Related frameworks must also take into account everything from potential conflicts between different types of aircraft to the need for real-time robust communications and coordination between operators, various systems and, in some cases, air traffic controllers. Tracking capabilities and operational guidelines to prevent collisions and manage potential risks must also be included.
Industry success hinges on efforts to globally harmonize UTM, UAM and BVLOS technical standards, ensure interoperability and align regulatory approaches to create a seamless airspace for both crewed and uncrewed aircraft.
The Cornerstone of Aviation Safety: International Standards
At the heart of global aviation safety lies a network of international standards bodies. All of these bodies bring together experts from government (typically regulators like the Federal Aviation Administration or FAA), industry and academia to develop industry consensus-based standards that contribute to aviation safety worldwide.
Key Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) include the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA), ASTM International, SAE and EUROCAE. Other key international aviation safety-related organizations include the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Joint Authorities for the Regulation of UAS (JARUS).
Europe has several aviation bodies that also play a critical role in harmonizing emerging aviation operations with global standards. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) works closely with SDOs and other international bodies to align regulations and standards for UAS operations. Eurocontrol coordinates pan-European air navigation services, key to ensuring that national and regional systems can coordinate to support safe and efficient UAS operations through integration into the broader air traffic management system across Europe. Additionally, other European Regulators such as the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are involved in shaping UAS regulations and collaborating with other global SDO and authorities to ensure safe integration into national airspace systems.
Historically, the U.S. has been at the forefront of all of these international efforts, leveraging its technological expertise and regulatory experience to help shape global aviation standards. The collaboration between SDOs, other international standards bodies and the regulators that participate in their various working groups center around one primary goal: safe integration into shared airspace.
Key Focus Areas for Harmonization
BVLOS, UTM and UAM all remain key focus areas internationally. For example, RTCA has played a key role in establishing standards for aviation communication, navigation and surveillance systems. Its Special Committee 147 (SC-147) focuses on Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) standards, vital to prevent midair collisions.
Meanwhile, ASTM International through its aviation portfolio of technical committees (F37 Aircraft Systems, F38 UAS, and F44 General Aviation) has been at the forefront of developing standards for UAS and eVTOLs with focus areas such as vehicle design, operations and traffic management. ASTM’s F38 Committee is actively working on revisions and new standards to sync with the operational requirements related to the FAA’s BVLOS rule-making efforts (often referred to as “Part 108”). Several ASTM standards are critical to this ongoing global collaboration and will provide a foundation to ensure that UAS operations are safe, reliable and compatible across different regions.
That being said, there are harmonization challenges and areas in need of alignment. While both the U.S. and Europe have made significant strides in developing standards for BVLOS, the specific requirements for communication, tracking, and data sharing need to be aligned to ensure a seamless operational experience across regions.
Relatedly, while the U.S. and Europe have visions for UTM and U-Space and UAS operations, differences in regulatory environments and technological approaches also still exist. The European framework, U-Space, focuses on the operational management of drones within defined airspace categories, with an emphasis on safety zones and operational restrictions. In contrast, the U.S. has adopted standards, such as ASTM F3548, that focus more on technological elements like communication, monitoring and data exchange across borders. These differences also necessitate efforts to harmonize operational guidelines and technological solutions to ensure global compatibility.
International collaboration between ASTM, SDOs and regulators has been ongoing for several years and progress continues at a steady pace. Currently, these groups are in the stage of refining standards to address areas where harmonization is still needed, particularly concerning BVLOS operations. While full alignment may take a few more years,much of the foundational work has already been established. Industry leaders remain optimistic that progress will continue over the coming years. More work needs to be done…and the U.S. should remain at the helm.
America’s Leadership in Global Aviation Safety: At Risk?
America’s established leadership role in developing standards has not only enhanced safety in American skies but has also contributed significantly to the remarkable safety record of commercial aviation worldwide. As the largest aviation market in the world and a driving force in innovation, U.S. leadership in developing frameworks for UTM and UAM will be crucial to ensure a smooth and safe transition for future air transportation. Recent developments have, however, threatened to undermine the U.S.’s long-standing leadership in aviation.
In January, a directive issued to U.S. government employees and contractors mandated an immediate halt to participation in SDOs. While this ban on supporting SDOs was ultimately reversed, a more general prohibition on U.S. participation at the international level (e.g. ICAO, JARUS) appears to remain in effect. This abrupt withdrawal raises serious concerns about the future of aviation safety standards and America’s ability to shape them globally.
Here’s why it matters. U.S. participation in standards bodies has ensured that American interests and safety priorities are well-represented in global standards. It has also facilitated the harmonization of aviation practices across borders to create a safer and more efficient global air transportation system. Withdrawing from these organizations has significant and far-reaching implications:
- Harmonization of Standards: The absence of U.S. leadership could lead to fragmented global standards, with different regions adopting incompatible regulations. This fragmentation could complicate international air travel and increase safety risks.
- Reduced Influence: By not actively participating, the U.S. risks losing its ability to shape global standards, potentially leading to regulations that do not align with American safety priorities or industry needs. Ceding influence and leadership leaves a hole that not only our allies – and more importantly our near peer adversaries, with adverse interests – will undoubtedly fill.
- Loss of Commercial and Market Share: Failing to participate in international standard-setting could allow adversaries to dominate emerging sectors, such as UAS and eVTOLs, leading to a loss of commercial and market share for American companies in critical technologies of the future.
- Loss of Expertise: U.S. government experts bring invaluable knowledge and experience to these forums. Their absence could result in standards that fail to address critical safety concerns or incorporate the latest technological advancements.
- Technological Lag: As aviation technology evolves rapidly, standards must be continuously updated. U.S. withdrawal could result in standards that lag behind technological innovations. This could ultimately compromise safety and operational efficiency.
The U.S. must maintain its participation in international standards bodies. The risks of non-participation far outweigh any perceived benefits.
The Way Forward: Keep Moving Forward
The recent tragedy in Washington D.C. serves as a somber example of the dangers present in our airspaces, even those that are meticulously regulated, and the high stakes involved in aviation safety. As investigators work to unravel the causes of this accident, it’s clear that robust, internationally recognized standards are now more critical than ever before, as we look ahead to a future with eVTOLs and UAS filling our skies. New standards and systems for UTM, UAM and BVLOS are critical components of this future. Strong leadership in the development of these standards will ensure safer skies for everyone.
Aligning technological solutions and regulatory frameworks between the U.S., Europe and other nations across the world ensures that emerging aviation can operate efficiently across borders. The collaboration seeks to develop a common set of standards that will allow new entrant operators, regulators and manufacturers to function under the same set of rules and expectations, no matter where they are located.
The decision to withdraw from these forums is a step in the wrong direction. It’s time for policymakers to recognize the vital importance of U.S. participation in shaping global aviation standards. Only through active engagement and leadership can we hope to prevent future tragedies and ensure that air travel remains the safest form of transportation worldwide.
The collaboration between SDOs, other international bodies and regulators has always paved the way for the safe, efficient and interoperable integration of aircraft across the global commons. While challenges remain, particularly in aligning operational standards and regulatory frameworks, the work being done today will lay the groundwork for a future where emerging aviation technologies can seamlessly coexist with crewed aviation on a global scale.
The skies connect us all, and safety in aviation is a global concern that requires global cooperation. By continuing to engage with international bodies organizations the U.S. will:
- Ensure that its vast expertise continues to shape global aviation safety standards
- Maintain its leadership position in the international aviation community
- Promote harmonization of safety practices across borders
- Drive innovation in aviation safety technology
As we mourn the lives lost in the recent D.C. crash, we must now look to the future. The lives of millions of air travelers depend on getting this right. The U.S. has long been a beacon of aviation safety. The U.S. must reclaim its seat at the table and continue to lead the way in setting the gold standard for aviation safety across the globe. The time to act is now…before the skies become too crowded and the risks too great to manage.
By: Phil Kenul (Rear Admiral NOAA Ret.)