Senate Panel To Consider Safety Bill with ADS-B In Mandate

The Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to consider a bipartisan aviation safety package tomorrow that is designed to address many of the concerns raised in the aftermath of the January 29 collision of a U.S. Army Black Hawk and a PSA Airlines CRJ700.

S.2503, the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, combines elements in separate bills that Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced in July and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) had offered in June.

Key among the numerous provisions in the bill is a mandate that all aircraft that are required to have ADS-B Out to also be equipped with ADS-B In by late 2031. The measure would provide a possible one-year extension for retrofits.

The bill further would eliminate a “loophole” that allows most military aircraft to operate without ADS-B transmitting. Other measures would strengthen oversight of mixed air traffic and flight routes near commercial service airports, call for an Airborne Collision Avoidance System-X action plan, and direct the FAA to update standards on safe distances between aircraft and controller training once ADS-B In is widely adopted.

In addition, the ROTOR Act would establish an FAA Office of FAA-DOD Coordination and direct the Inspector General of the Army to conduct an audit of the Army’s coordination with the FAA, pilot training and qualification standards, and use of ADS-B Out.

“The ROTOR Act makes common-sense safety improvements that are long overdue,” Cruz said. “I am thankful to Sen. Cantwell for her partnership on this critical piece of bipartisan legislation to protect American skies.”

“Bipartisan cooperation must ensure safety improvements are reached in aviation as quickly as possible,” Cantwell added. “The agreed-upon language delivers real aviation safety improvements by making sure that ADS-B In and Out requirements are truly implemented after 17 years of delay with no FAA loopholes.”