The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has unanimously approved a bipartisan aviation safety bill that aims to address several safety concerns identified after a fatal mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) earlier this year. The incident, which resulted in the deaths of 67 people on January 29, brought attention to the lack of location-transmitting technology on certain military aircraft and insufficient coordination between federal agencies.
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee, and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chair of the Committee, led the introduction of the legislation. The agreement incorporates elements from Senator Cantwell’s Safe Operation of Shared Airspace (SOSA) Act and is presented as a substitute amendment to the ROTOR Act, which was initially introduced by Senator Cruz in July.
“Sixty-seven people died because a military helicopter flew invisible to another aircraft and pilots lacked the technology to see each other. The bipartisan agreement fixes both problems,” Sen. Cantwell said in her opening statement before the vote on the bill. “First, it closes the ADS-B Out loophole immediately upon the enactment of this legislation. Second, it requires aircraft operators to equip their fleets with ADS-B In technology by 2031—the first-ever mandate for these life-saving technologies after 17 years, when the NTSB first recommended it. The agreement also strengthens FAA-Department of Defense coordination, requires comprehensive safety reviews of all aircraft operations in the D.C. airspace, as well as all major and mid-sized airports across the country. These are the reforms that the families sought, and we know that they will save lives.”
The legislation requires all aircraft to be equipped with ADS-B In technology by December 31, 2031. This equipment is intended to improve situational awareness for pilots by providing traffic advisories and alerts both in-flight and on airport grounds. The law also closes a loophole that previously allowed military aircraft to operate without transmitting their locations under certain exemptions.
Additional provisions include mandatory comprehensive safety reviews at DCA and other major airports nationwide, increased coordination between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DoD), regular audits regarding compliance with new rules, and advancing next-generation collision avoidance technologies such as ACAS-X.
The committee’s action follows findings from National Transportation Safety Board investigations revealing more than 15,000 near-misses between commercial planes and helicopters in the National Capital Region over three years prior to this year’s crash.
Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) are co-sponsors of SOSA provisions included in this legislation.
Senator Cantwell has previously played a key role in advancing aviation safety measures, including leading efforts for stronger FAA oversight after high-profile accidents involving U.S.-manufactured planes.
