A new bill introduced in Washington D.C. aims to address aviation safety vulnerabilities revealed by a tragic midair collision over the Potomac River that resulted in the death of 67 individuals on January 29. Sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz, the proposed legislation, known as the Rotor Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act (ROTOR Act), seeks to mandate the installation of crucial anti-collision technology in all aircraft and enforce the Army to keep this technology activated in most cases.
The incident involved an Army Black Hawk helicopter colliding with an American Airlines regional jet as it approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Notably, the helicopter was not transmitting Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data due to an existing policy that permitted the military to operate with the system turned off. The ROTOR Act aims to change this by requiring all aircraft to send and receive ADS-B signals, which include critical flight data such as GPS location and altitude.
Senator Cruz emphasized the importance of ADS-B for aviation safety, criticizing military practices that allowed flights to operate without this technology. He proposed that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) only permit military flights without ADS-B in very limited situations, such as “sensitive government missions.”
Support for the legislation has also come from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, who acknowledged that the NTSB has advocated for the adoption of ADS-B technology for over two decades. Homendy described the inclusion of ADS-B In as a “game changer” for aviation safety.
American Airlines expressed its support for the new measures, stressing its commitment to enhancing safety following the tragic accident involving Flight 5342. The bill also includes provisions for the FAA to reassess helicopter flight routes near busy airports and requires an audit of military aviation safety practices by the Army inspector general.
As investigations into the collision continue, the ROTOR Act represents a proactive step towards improving aviation safety and preventing similar tragedies in the future.