A Tragic Midair Collision in Southern Arizona Sparks Aviation Safety Discussions
Tens of thousands of planes take off, land, and perform touch-and-go maneuvers every year at the Marana Regional Airport in southern Arizona. Unlike larger airports, Marana does not have an air traffic control tower, which means pilots must rely on precise communication and coordination to navigate the skies safely. Recently, this system failed when two small planes collided midair near one of the runways on the outskirts of Tucson. One of the planes crashed to the ground, catching fire and claiming the lives of two people. The other plane managed to land safely, and its occupants were uninjured. This incident has drawn attention to the complexities of aviation safety, especially at smaller airports without the oversight of a control tower.
While this collision is the latest in a series of aviation mishaps to make headlines, experts emphasize that each incident is unique, and there is no apparent connection between them. However, the circumstances of the Marana collision have provided some clues. A chief flight instructor who was flying with a student at the time of the crash reported hearing a distress call over the radio. One pilot screamed, “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! He just hit us!” as the planes collided. Federal investigators will now work to determine the exact cause of the crash, a process that will take months due to its thorough and meticulous nature.
The Role of Communication and Safety Protocols at Small Airports
The absence of a control tower at Marana Regional Airport does not necessarily make it less safe, but it does mean pilots must adhere to a different set of communication and safety procedures. Across the U.S., only about 10% of the 5,100 public airports have control towers staffed by air traffic controllers. These are typically the busiest airports, handling large volumes of commercial flights and complex operations. For smaller airports like Marana, pilots rely on radio communications and the “see and avoid” principle to ensure safe operations. This principle, drilled into pilots from the earliest stages of their training, requires them to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times.
Mike Ginter, a retired Navy aviator and senior vice president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Air Safety Institute, compares this system to driving a car. Just as drivers follow safety rules learned in driver’s education—such as checking mirrors, signaling turns, and yielding to other drivers—pilots are ingrained with similar tenets of safety. These practices have proven effective, considering the sheer volume of flights that take off and land at small airports every day. General aviation pilots log approximately 26 million flight hours annually, and the vast majority of these flights occur without incident.
The Historical Context of Aviation Safety Regulation
The modern system of aviation safety in the U.S. has its roots in a tragic event that occurred over the Grand Canyon in 1956. On that day, two commercial flights departed Los Angeles within minutes of each other—one bound for Chicago and the other for Kansas. Both planes were flying under visual flight rules, which meant pilots were navigating by sight rather than relying on instruments. Tragically, the planes collided midair, killing all 128 people on board. This disaster marked a turning point in aviation safety, prompting widespread calls for reform.
In response to the Grand Canyon crash, legislation was introduced in 1958 to create an independent federal agency responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient use of national airspace. The bill was signed into law just months later, establishing the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), which later evolved into the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA’s responsibilities have grown over the years, particularly as air traffic control systems were modernized. Today, the FAA plays a critical role in overseeing aviation safety, regulating air traffic, and investigating accidents to prevent future tragedies.
Modernization Efforts and the Future of Air Traffic Control
While Marana Regional Airport currently lacks a control tower, it is one of many airports across the country that may benefit from federal grants aimed at modernizing air traffic control infrastructure. Through the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program, airports can apply for funding to build or upgrade control towers, often staffed by private companies or contract workers rather than FAA employees. Nearly 180 airports nationwide are eligible for this funding, with many opting to replace outdated towers or construct new ones. For example, airports in Bend, Oregon; Boulder City, Nevada; and Mankato, Minnesota, have recently received grants for site studies, environmental work, and construction of new towers.
Marana Regional Airport was accepted into the program in 2019, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed its plans to build a new control tower. Airport officials have since revised their timeline, aiming to complete the project by 2029. While the addition of a control tower could enhance safety by providing an extra layer of oversight, experts emphasize that the absence of a tower does not inherently make an airport unsafe. Pilots at smaller airports like Marana are still required to follow strict communication and safety protocols, ensuring that operations remain safe and efficient.
Federal Job Cuts and Their Impact on Aviation Safety
Concerns about aviation safety have also been raised in response to federal job cuts under the Trump administration. In January, President Donald Trump issued a memo calling for an immediate assessment of aviation safety following a midair collision over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people. The memo raised questions about hiring practices within the FAA, with the president suggesting that previous Democratic administrations had shifted away from merit-based hiring. While some FAA jobs have been eliminated as part of broader efforts to streamline the federal workforce and reduce spending, officials have clarified that less than 1% of the agency’s more than 45,000 employees were affected. Importantly, no air traffic controllers or critical safety personnel were fired as part of the job cuts.
Despite these assurances, labor and industry groups have expressed concerns about staffing levels at air traffic control towers, arguing that many facilities were already understaffed before the cuts. In a letter to Congress, the industry group Airlines for America called for emergency funding to address critical needs in air traffic control technology, infrastructure, and staffing. The group also emphasized the importance of modernizing the nation’s air traffic control system, a goal that President Trump has expressed support for. As the investigation into the Marana collision continues, these broader discussions about aviation safety, staffing, and infrastructure will likely remain at the forefront of national conversations.
Conclusion: Ongoing Efforts to Enhance Aviation Safety
The midair collision in Marana, Arizona, underscores the complexities and challenges of ensuring aviation safety, particularly at smaller airports without control towers. While the incident has raised questions about the role of air traffic control and the effectiveness of current safety protocols, experts remind us that the vast majority of flights occur without incident. The FAA’s ongoing efforts to modernize air traffic control infrastructure, coupled with the ingrained safety practices of pilots, provide a strong foundation for maintaining the safety of U.S. airspace. However, as the aviation industry continues to evolve, it will be crucial to address staffing concerns, invest in new technologies, and learn from past tragedies to prevent future accidents.
