FAA Overhauls Safety Rules for Pilots After Close Calls

The US Federal Aviation Administration is suspending the practice of pilots relying on their sight to maintain safe distances between helicopters and planes in areas where they’re likely to cross paths, the latest safety measure imposed since last year’s deadly midair collision near Washington.

In areas where helicopters often cross paths with arriving and departing planes, air traffic controllers must use radar to keep aircraft safely separated, according to a Wednesday announcement by US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.

The US National Transportation Safety Board pointed to controllers’ overreliance on so-called “visual separation” — where ...