US senator presses Pentagon on failure to use key safety system in DC-area helicopter flights

WASHINGTON, March 7 (Reuters) - The top Senate Democrat on the committee overseeing aviation pressed the Pentagon on Friday on the military's failure to use a key safety system in routine helicopter flights around the U.S. capital region following a deadly incident last month.

A U.S. Army helicopter that collided with an American Airlines AAL.O regional jet in January near Washington's Reagan Airport, killing 67, was not broadcasting ADS-B signals.

"It is not credible to assert that each of the several thousand helicopter flights operated annually in the National Capital Region is sufficiently sensitive to merit a blanket exemption to operate without a critical safety feature like ADS-B Out activated," said Senator Maria Cantwell.