Tens of thousands of flights operate at Marana Regional Airport in southern Arizona annually, navigating the skies without an air traffic control tower through precise communication among pilots.
In a recent incident, two small planes collided midair near Tucson, resulting in one aircraft crashing and igniting a fire that sent acrid smoke into the air. Tragically, the remains of two individuals were discovered in the wreckage, while the other plane managed to land safely with no reported injuries.
This collision adds to a series of aviation accidents garnering attention in the last few weeks, although experts assert there is no evident connection among these events.
Communication over the airwaves has shed light on the circumstances surrounding the Arizona collision. A chief flight instructor airborne with a student at the time detected a distressing situation: One plane was executing a touch-and-go maneuver when another aircraft accidentally hit its propeller while attempting to land.
Erwin Castillo, who was present during the incident, recounted hearing a pilot radioing, “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! He just hit us.”
Federal investigators are now tasked with conducting a thorough examination to determine the cause of the crash, a process anticipated to take months.
While some observers have suggested that having an air traffic control tower might have prevented the incident, experts indicate that airports without towers maintain safety through alternative communication protocols. At present, only about 10% of the country’s roughly 5,100 public airports have staffed towers for directing air traffic.
For airports that operate without control towers, pilots depend on radio communications and the “see and avoid” principle, a fundamental aspect of pilot training highlighted by Mike Ginter, a retired Navy aviator and senior official with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Air Safety Institute.
This system operates effectively given the vast number of flights departing and arriving from smaller airports, with general aviation pilots logging approximately 26 million flight hours annually.
The implications of mishaps in aviation history, such as the catastrophic 1956 Grand Canyon collision, have led to significant advancements in safety protocols and regulations in air traffic management.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), initially established to enhance airspace safety and efficiency, now oversees the modernization of air traffic control systems in collaboration with airports seeking federal grants for infrastructure improvements.
Nearly 180 airports across the nation are poised to receive funding aimed at upgrading or constructing new air traffic control towers, with a focus on enhancing overall safety.
In the specific case of Marana Regional Airport, plans to build a control tower were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but officials anticipate the project will be completed by 2029.
Following a recent tragic midair collision involving military and commercial aircraft, there has been renewed scrutiny regarding aviation safety practices, prompting discussions about necessary reforms within the FAA.
As calls for modernization and increased staffing within air traffic control surface, industry groups advocate for urgent funding to strengthen critical technology and infrastructure essential for safe aviation operations.
