House to Vote on Aviation Safety Bill
House lawmakers are set to vote on Tuesday regarding a new aviation safety bill aimed at preventing another tragic mid-air crash like the one that occurred near Washington, D.C.
The proposed legislation, termed the ALERT Act, mandates that aircraft operating in congested or controlled airspace utilize systems that enhance pilots’ ability to track other nearby planes and helicopters. Federal safety officials have long advocated for this measure, suggesting it could potentially avert disastrous collisions.
This bill would not only require the installation of new anti-collision technology across most U.S. aircraft fleets but also involve a comprehensive review of helicopter routes around major airports. Additionally, it would call for the Federal Aviation Administration to revise air traffic control protocols and training methods.
This push for reform follows a tragic incident on January 29, 2025, when an American Airlines jet collided with a U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, resulting in the loss of all 67 lives on board both aircraft. This marked the deadliest military aircraft crash in over two decades.
Recently, lawmakers revised the bill after federal safety officials raised concerns about its earlier version. Now, it is headed to the full House of Representatives following unanimous approval from two significant committees. “The bipartisan ALERT Act is a comprehensive package that addresses possible causes and contributing factors and covers all 50 safety recommendations issued by the NTSB,” remarked Republican Rep. Sam Graves from Missouri during a recent committee markup. He and Rep. Rick Larsen, a Democrat from Washington, co-sponsored the bill.
Graves noted that lawmakers worked closely with the NTSB to refine and enhance the legislation after initial feedback indicated that it wasn’t thorough enough.
Before the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board had repeatedly flagged persistent safety risks, urging the expansion of aircraft tracking technology since 2008. They indicated that gaps in the systems that allow planes and helicopters to detect each other in busy airspace pose significant dangers. It’s believed the collision could have been avoided had such technology been employed on both aircraft.
The accident spotlighted the vulnerabilities in how military and civilian aircraft operate in shared airspace, particularly near heavily trafficked airports. At the time of the incident, Army helicopters were not transmitting location data due to military policies intended to restrict visibility in certain operations. Yet the flight was just a routine training mission, raising questions about the applicability of those exclusions.
The House bill aims to tackle some of these issues by requiring that aircraft utilize Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast In (ADS-B In) technology, which would provide pilots with real-time location information about nearby aircraft. Most planes already implement ADS-B Out systems to announce their positions.
However, some critics argue that the bill may still fall short. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz from Texas and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell from Washington issued a joint statement expressing concerns that the House version does not adequately adhere to the essential situational awareness technology that the NTSB has recommended multiple times.
They also highlighted another piece of legislation, the ROTOR Act, which would impose stricter requirements for ADS-B across all aircraft, including military ones. This measure was unanimously approved by the Senate in December but did not secure enough support in the House.
Despite expectations for the House bill to pass, families of the tragedy’s victims are advocating for stricter provisions, including set timelines for implementing safety measures and requirements for all aircraft—including military helicopters—to transmit location data during scheduled flights.
Family members behind Flight 5342 remarked that “recommendations without firm deadlines or clear obligations lead to recommendations without results.”
They emphasized the necessity of including a clear requirement for ADS-B In technology that fulfills the NTSB’s recommendations in any final legislation.
