Faa Reopens Dca Runways, Increases Arrivals Rate As Crash Investigation Continues

Flying will be even safer after the DCA crash

Lessons learned from tragic plane crashes helps the aviation industry as a whole become even safer.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Tuesday that it was reopening runways and increasing the arrival rate at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The agency had closed runways 4/22 and 15/33 to accommodate investigatory efforts following a fatal collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near the airport on Jan. 29.

According to the FAA, the normal arrival rate at DC is 32 flights per hour at peak times. On Feb. 6, that rate was reduced to 26 flights per hour to reduce controllers' workload and in response to the National Transportation Safety Board's investigative activities in the area. Beginning Tuesday, the arrival rate will increase to 28 flights per hour.

The FAA said restrictions on helicopter flights in DCA's airspace remain in place.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation into last month's crash, said that some of the on-scene investigation was winding down as components were moved to laboratory facilities for further inspection and analysis. Some investigators will remain at the accident scene to continue to document the wreckage.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.