Notes
Senate bill introduced by Senators Kaine and Warner in the 119th Congress, 2nd Session, to amend title 49, United States Code, improving operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The bill cites the January 29, 2025 midair collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army H-60 Black Hawk helicopter, noting one air traffic controller managed 29 aircraft in 18 minutes. Key provisions include: reducing the Airport Arrival Rate at DCA to no more than 28 aircraft within 90 days, converting arrival rates into binding 30-minute interval caps within 180 days to prohibit clustering or banking, and permanently eliminating 30 slot exemptions under 49 U.S.C. § 41718 (at least 26 being beyond-perimeter slot exemptions). The bill references Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) capacity of 55 million passengers annually.