Letter to the Hon. Stephen Dickson, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration - Senator Duckworth, Former Army Black Hawk Pilot, Demands Investigations into Military Helicopters Threatening American Civilians

Letter

Dear Administrator Dickson:

I am deeply concerned about the reports of several helicopters that operated in a low-hover over
large groups of people gathered in Washington, DC on the evening of Monday, June 1, 2020. I
have asked for an independent investigation into this matter by the U.S. Department of
Transportation Office of the Inspector General (USDOT OIG) and the Department of Defense
Office of the Inspector General. I am also requesting any additional information the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) may have regarding the potential misuse and unsafe operation of
military, government or civilian aircraft flying at low altitudes over countless U.S. citizens on the
evening in question.

In order to understand if these flight operations were in violation of Federal Aviation Regulations
(FARs) or United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs), I request you conduct an internal
investigation. As part of that investigation, I ask that the following questions regarding the
potential misuse of military, government or civilian aircraft be answered no later than June 30,
2020, accompanied with all appropriate FAA documentation. To the extent a question refers to
the military, the question shall be interpreted to cover all of the U.S. Department of Defense's
military branches and sub-agencies, including Reserve and National Guard forces.

1. Did the FAA have any involvement in the low altitude flight operations of rotary aircraft
on the evening of Monday, June 1, 2020, and if so, what is the extent of that
involvement?
2. Did the FAA approve any portion of the low altitude flight operations of the rotary
aircraft?
3. While operating in the DC Metropolitan Flight Restricted Zone (DC FRZ), did the
aircraft maintain two-way communication with air traffic control at all times?
4. While operating in the DC FRZ, did air traffic control maintain positive radar contact of
the aircraft at all times?
5. Did the aircraft violate any airspace regulations?
6. Did the aircraft violate any air traffic control communication regulations?
7. Did the operators of these rotary aircraft violate any other Federal laws, regulations or
policies?
8. Did the air traffic controllers responsible for helicopter flight operations in the DC FRZ
violate any Federal laws, regulations, or policies?

I encourage the FAA to act swiftly to fully understand the potential flight infractions that
may have occurred in our Nation's capital and the potential scope of undue hazard
hundreds of civilians were exposed to.

If the results of the FAA or DOT I G's investigations reveal a flight violation did, in fact,
occur during these low-level flight operations, I fully expect the appropriate annotations to
be made in the offending members' records and these members to be held accountable to
the fullest extent of the law. The safe operation of all aircraft and maintaining the safety of
people and property at all times is of utmost concern. Thank you in advance for your
consideration of my request.

Source