After the recent helicopter crash in Kentucky that claimed the lives of nine soldiers, Senator Chuck Schumer took to Twitter to call for swift action on implementing safety measures that were recommended in a report by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) following a similar tragedy in New York last year.
In January 2021, a Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Mendon, New York during a training exercise, killing three Army National Guard members. Following this tragic event, Senator Schumer requested that the GAO review the safety protocols and procedures surrounding military helicopter operations.
The resulting report from the GAO made several recommendations aimed at improving safety and reducing fatalities during military helicopter operations. These included improvements to flight crew training programs, better communication between air traffic controllers and pilots, and increased use of technology such as collision avoidance systems.
Now with another deadly crash occurring in Kentucky just months after the New York incident, Senator Schumer is calling for immediate action to implement these recommendations before any more lives are lost.
In his tweet linking to the GAO report’s summary page, Senator Schumer wrote: “These practices must be swiftly implemented.” The senator’s statement comes as no surprise given his previous efforts pushing for greater accountability when it comes to military aviation safety.
Senator Schumer has been an outspoken advocate for improved aviation safety since he was elected to Congress over two decades ago. In 2000, he co-sponsored legislation known as “Safe Skies,” which aimed to improve airline security by increasing funding for airport security measures and enhancing pilot training programs.
More recently, he has worked on legislation related specifically to military aviation safety. In 2019, he introduced a bill called “The Military Pilot Protection Act” which sought to provide protections for whistleblowers who reported concerns about unsafe conditions or practices within military aviation units.
While there have been some improvements made over time when it comes to aviation safety across all sectors – including commercial airlines – incidents like those seen in New York and Kentucky highlight the need for continued vigilance and improvements.
As Senator Schumer noted in his tweet, “These practices must be swiftly implemented.” It remains to be seen whether this call to action will spur meaningful change when it comes to military aviation safety, but given the senator’s track record on this issue, it seems likely that he will continue pushing for greater accountability and safer operations moving forward.