Legislation to improve aviation safety by requiring aircraft and helicopters to use Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) technology was introduced recently by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).
The bill’s introduction comes six months to the day after the January 29 midair collision between a military helicopter and a commercial jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Cruz, the chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, said the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act would require the use of technology that would allow aircraft to communicate their location with greater precision, and allow pilots to communicate better with other aircraft, air traffic control and vehicles on the ground.
“American skies must be as safe as possible, and our duty as lawmakers is to ensure that they are,” Cruz said. “The ROTOR Act represents a common-sense step forward in aviation safety reform. One of the most important parts of this bill is the requirement that all aircraft, military and civilian, use both ADS-B Out and ADS-B In. We will not wait for another accident to happen before we finally protect American skies. We have made it abundantly clear that when American lives are at risk, excuses are not acceptable.”
The legislation also closes a loophole in current legislation that allows the U.S. Department of Defense to fly aircraft domestically without having to use “ADS-B Out” technology. Additionally, the legislation enhances oversight of helicopter routes near commercial service airports, requires quarterly ADS-B compliance reports, and would establish studies into improvements to DCA airspace.
Thew legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation; Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), and Todd Young (R-IN).