'A major step backwards' | Families of DCA mid-air collision victims, NTSB denounce helicopter safety section of National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON — Before the House passed a major defense policy bill Wednesday, NTSB investigators and the families of those killed in the DCA mid-air collision had already been raising concerns about what they say is an insufficient section on helicopter safety.

Section 373 of the proposed bill is called "manned rotary wing aircraft safety." It requires that helicopters be electronically visible and integrated with the safety systems airliners use to avoid collisions in certain busy U.S. airspace — including the D.C. area — and allows only the secretary of a military department to grant waivers in agreement with the secretary of transportation. It also requires reporting on near misses over the past 10 years and annual reports each year until 2030.

But NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy and t