National Security: Midair

Less than a week ago, a midair collision at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) cost the lives of 67 souls. America is not used to that; the last fatal airline crash in the US was nearly 16 years ago. This time, an Army Blackhawk helicopter collided in the dark with an American Airlines regional flight from Wichita on final approach barely 300 feet above the Potomac River. There were no survivors. This is frequently the case in a midair collision between two flying machines, particularly at