SCOOP: A year before the two recent evacuations of D.C.'s ATC center, a previously unreported incident caused smoke to enter the control room but did not result in an evacuation. Controllers lost their medical certificates. via @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

Conversations this week around near misses in aviation are eerie, given today is the 49th anniversary of the Tenerife disaster. Two 747s collided on the runway in the Canary Islands, killing 583 people -- it remains the deadliest accident in aviation history. (Wikimedia photo)

Fatal collision highlights air traffic control challenges at LaGuardia (featuring our @willguisbond.com) ny1.com/nyc/all-boro...

NEW: FAA says it is investigating whether its new visual separation policy between helicopters and fixed wing aircraft was followed during a Tuesday close call near SNA Airport in California:

NTSB CHAIR: INITIAL ANALYSIS SAYS CRITICAL ASDE-X SURFACE AWARENESS TECH IN ATC TOWER DID NOT GENERATE AN ALERT BEFORE FATAL CRASH B/W AIR CANADA JET AND FIRETRUCK

NTSB SAYS TWO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS WERE IN THE "CAB" AT THE TIME OF FATAL LGA RUNWAY COLLISION. This included the local controller and the controller-in-charge. Says it was "unclear" who was controlling ground traffic on taxiways.

On March 13, the Potomac TRACON was evacuated and DCA/IAD/BWI briefly came to a standstill. Per a report from the local fire department, it appears this single faulty part was causing a smell/leak that led over 30 people to become ill:

New: Decades of aircraft and ground vehicle near misses at LGA preceded fatal crash, public safety databases show (via @theaircurrent -- no paywall): theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

SAFETY NEWS: FAA permanently suspends use of visual separation between helicopters and airplanes around most high-traveled U.S. airports (via @theaircurrent.com TAC/Intel - no paywall): theaircurrent.com/intel/faa-pe...

A next-gen collision avoidance tool known as ACAS X could help prevent a future midair collision, but will have to make its way through Congress first. The collision avoidance tool that could help prevent the next midair disaster (via @theaircurrent.com): theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...

We’ve made this free to all readers, too! ⬇️

NEWS: White House spokesperson says Inman was fired because of “highly concerning reports” of alcohol use, staff abuse:

SCOOP w/ @jonostrower.com: NTSB board member J. Todd Inman abruptly departs safety watchdog (via @theaircurrent.com): theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

This incisive piece of analysis from @jonostrower.com is now free for all readers as a public service, given the evolving and incredibly critical nature of the conflict. Read more ⬇️

Must read breaking news from @theaircurrent.com's @elanhead.com: Hyundai eVTOL subsidiary Supernal lays off most of its staff in major retrenchment #staycurrent theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...

For those keeping track at home, this is the same mechanism the FAA activated last year to address chronic issues at Newark Liberty International Airport.

NEWS: The FAA will hold a delay reduction meeting next week to reduce flights at Chicago O'Hare Airport, citing over scheduling during peak travel periods.

FAA closes airspace in Fort Hancock, Texas after reported use of anti-drone laser (via @reuters.com): www.reuters.com/business/aer...

The NTSB has issued a safety alert to first responders warning of dangers posed by unused rockets that power ballistic parachute systems, like Cirrus' CAPS. www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/saf...

American Airlines safety executive John DeLeeuw was confirmed to be the fifth member of the NTSB by the Senate today in a 50-45 vote.

SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON was a "no" vote on this bill.

BREAKING: ROTOR ACT FAILS TO PASS HOUSE AFTER NOT RECEIVING TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE IN STUNNING SETBACK FOR FAMILIES & SENATE AUTHOR CHAIR TED CRUZ.

NEW: Rep. Graves says he is committed to marking up the ALERT Act as soon as *next week* if ROTOR fails on the House floor at 1:30pm:

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy slams House ALERT Act in a gaggle. Says idea that the bill implements all 50 recommendations is “false.”

Big day on the hill - ROTOR Act vote set for this afternoon. Packed press conference happening now NTSB Chair Homendy here, among others.

Folks with @theaircurrent.com TAC/Intel saw this first last night: NTSB analysis contradicts lawmakers on how House bill addresses D.C. crash safety recommendations. Notable chart from said analysis, which is provided for free to subscribers: theaircurrent.com/intel/ntsb-a...

NEWS: Monday’s House vote on the ROTOR Act (and all other votes) are POSTPONED due to inclement weather. DC area set for a significant snow event starting early tmrw morning.

As the U.S. House considers two different aviation safety proposals, @theaircurrent.com has dropped the paywall on my Oct. '25 feature on the ROTOR Act and the fight over mandating ADS-B In. Available for free as a public service. Read here: theaircurrent.com/aviation-pol...

Good story from the team at Politico on this drama in Congress over air safety legislation. I think the point about Graves' miscalc of waiting to introduce legislation is an important one. House chairs upset at Speaker Johnson's deal over upcoming air safety vote: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

Apparently delivered by Leidos:

DOT confirms that Reagan National Airport (DCA) has transitioned to using electronic flight strips -- part of the Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) technology suite.

I decided it was finally time for a new suit since I've been wearing the same two since I was a freshman in college (yikes). I put the new one on today and I feel invincible, its like a Cadillac (tho still the budget find at Men's WH). What are they putting in these things??

Total billings for all GA aircraft exceeded $35 billion for the first time ever

GAMA says its member companies delivered the highest amount of business jets since 2009 last year, at over 800 aircraft.

On a webinar with NBAA CEO Ed Bolen, FAA deputy administrator Chris Rocheleau jokes that the agency is going to try to come up with "a new name" for the "Brand New Air Traffic Control System" that is referred to as BNATCS (bee-nats).

“The decision to give just 48 hours’ notice to the industry was made by Duffy and caught Bedford and the FAA team off guard.” Clashes between Sec Duffy and FAA Administrator Bedford have intensified a year of turmoil for the aviation regulator, reports @willguisbond.com.

NEW from me: Clashes between FAA chief Bryan Bedford and Transpo. Sec. Sean Duffy have intensified a year of turmoil at the U.S. aviation regulator. Tons of details on the 1DOT move and internal re-org in here, too: More on @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/regulation/b...

NEWS: NTSB publishes its final DCA investigative report, capping off a year-long investigation. Document is roughly 400 pages. via @theaircurrent.com TAC/Intel (no paywall): theaircurrent.com/intel/ntsb-p...

New from @theaircurrent.com TAC/Intel -- FAA spox confirms that the already-delayed move of employees to DOT building is underway: theaircurrent.com/intel/faa-co...

Inside the Debacle That Led to the Closure of El Paso’s Airspace (via @nytimes.com) www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/u...

NEWS: Democrats have blocked a DHS funding bill in the Senate, largely putting the Department on track to shutdown tomorrow at midnight. Among those impacted are TSA agents who will be forced to work without pay.

NTSB Chair today references 2013 near midair collision that was nearly identical to series of events that led up to the Jan. 2025 crash near DCA airport which killed 67 people. This 2013 event was reported by @theaircurrent.com in December: theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...

"You can't put a price tag on life," NTSB chair says to a Senate cmte. Yet, as @theaircurrent.com the FAA has been forced to for years as it conducts safety rulemaking. Background here: theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy in front of the U.S. Senate: "What happened at DCA can happen anywhere in our airspace."

Bombardier CEO Eric Martel says on an earnings call that Bombardier is "not involved" in negotiations w/r/t the Canada de-certification matter. He saw Trump's move as a "threat" to the business but was encouraged by FAA chief Bedford's comments yesterday that CA Gulfstream cert was "tracking."

I rest my case:

Statements here from El Paso officials, who blame FAA for lack of communication and coordination on TFRs. Though I'm not defending this lack of communication, a reminder that the FAA *does* have absolute authority over the national airspace system, per 14 CFR. www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-QR...

Via @thedewline.bsky.social, a Marine Corps Osprey made an emergency landing on Feb. 3 due to a gearbox crack: aviationweek.com/defense/budg... Context: theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...

One immediate takeaway from the El Paso stuff: This wasn’t exactly the same as the NJ drone situation but it does make you appreciate how poorly the U.S. is equipped to deal with drone incursions of any kind. Both from an alerting perspective and also from a public perception / narrative POV.

Just like that, it’s over!