FAA would cap arrivals and remove flight exceptions at Reagan airport

The FAA Administrator would assess DCA’s arrival rate, limit it to no more than 28 aircraft in any 60-minute period, and set binding 30-minute caps. The limits would apply at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The assessment must consider airspace complexity, airport limits, aircraft mix, and traffic volume. The 30-minute caps must spread permitted arrivals and departures evenly across each hour and prevent them from bunching within shorter periods. The arrival-rate limit would be due within 90 days after enactment, and the 30-minute caps within 180 days.

The FAA Administrator would permanently remove 30 exceptions to DCA’s limits on takeoffs and landings. The exceptions must exist when the bill becomes law. At least 26 must involve flights beyond DCA’s legal distance limit. During 2028 through 2031, the Transportation Secretary may delay a removal by up to one year only if the FAA Administrator finds that removing one or more of that year’s six exceptions would bring no material and measurable safety improvement. Before a delay, the FAA Administrator must notify the public and members of Congress representing areas within Washington’s special flight rules area and allow 60 days for public comments. Six exceptions would be removed each year from 2028 through 2032, with all 30 removed by December 31, 2032.

Courts would not be allowed to review the FAA Administrator’s decisions to remove or delay flight-slot exceptions. This covers decisions under the bill’s process for removing 30 DCA flight-slot exceptions.

A commission would study DCA’s conditions and send findings and recommendations to Congress. Its members would represent the airport authority, federal agencies, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. The commission may seek input from aviation safety experts and other airport authorities. The first report would be due by December 31, 2028, with another at least every two years afterward.