In light of a fatal air collision in Washington D.C., an Air Force spokesperson told CityDesk ABQ that Kirtland Air Force Base and the Albuquerque International Sunport use various communication methods to keep the skies over the city safe.
Earlier this week, dozens of people were killed when a commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter collided at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington D.C.
Kirtland spokesperson Robert Smith said officials at the base and the airport communicate regularly to ensure flight paths and schedules are not in conflict.
He said Kirtland personnel and the Sunport use Federal Aviation Administration FAA standards to ensure adequate distance between aircraft. Smith said the standards are backed up by automation and aircraft separation technology with aural alarms to let crews and air traffic controllers know aircraft are too close together.
Wednesday’s crash occurred when an American Airlines flight attempting to land collided with the helicopter. The jet carried 60 passengers and four crew members; three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.
One possible factor making a similar crash in Albuquerque unlikely is the comparatively low level of traffic. The Sunport reports 5,310,964 passengers a year. According to the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority, 50.6 million passengers used Reagan National and Dulles International airports in 2023.