The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday it is suspending the use of visual separation between helicopters and airplanes in congested airspace around major airports, mandating that air traffic controllers use radar to maintain safe distances between aircraft.

The regulatory change comes more than a year after a fatal midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The crash highlighted safety concerns about aircraft separation procedures in busy airspace around major airports.

Under the previous system, air traffic controllers could rely on visual confirmation to ensure adequate separation between different types of aircraft. The new rules require controllers to use radar technology to monitor and maintain safe distances between helicopters and arriving or departing airplanes.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the policy change as part of broader safety measures being implemented by the Trump administration. The rule applies specifically to congested airspace around major airports where both commercial aviation and helicopter traffic operate.

The regulatory shift represents a significant change in how air traffic control manages mixed aircraft operations near airports. Aviation safety experts have long debated the effectiveness of visual versus radar separation methods in high-traffic airspace environments.

The FAA has not specified which airports will be immediately affected by the new requirements or provided a timeline for full implementation of the radar separation mandate.