A dedicated hotline intended to connect military and civilian air traffic controllers in the Washington, D.C., area has been out of service for more than three years, according to sources. This communication gap has sparked concerns that it could be contributing to potential safety hazards, including a recent near-miss incident involving aircraft. The hotline was designed to provide a direct and immediate line of communication for coordinating air traffic, especially during sensitive operations or emergencies.
The extended period of inactivity raises questions about oversight and maintenance protocols. Experts suggest that a reliable communication system is crucial for preventing accidents and ensuring the safe flow of air traffic in a busy airspace like that surrounding Washington, D.C., which includes restricted airspace and frequent military flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Defense are reportedly reviewing the situation to determine the cause of the outage and implement solutions to restore the hotline and prevent future disruptions. The investigation will also assess whether the broken hotline directly contributed to any safety incidents.
Broken D.C. Air Traffic Hotline Raises Safety Concerns
A critical hotline linking military and civilian air traffic controllers in Washington, D.C., has been non-operational for over three years. This communication breakdown may have played a role in a recent near-miss incident involving aircraft. The lack of a functioning hotline raises questions about the safety and coordination of air traffic control in the nation's capital. Investigations are underway to determine the full impact of the outage.
Source: Read the original article at NBC