Summary
- Two U.S. senators announce bipartisan aviation safety deal.
- Triggered by fatal January crash killing 67 people.
- Bill mandates ADS-B advanced tracking on military, civilian aircraft.
A bipartisan agreement on legislation requiring aircraft operators to equip their fleets with advanced aircraft-tracking technology known as ADS-B by the end of 2031, along with other safety reforms, is being approached by Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz, a Republican, and Maria Cantwell, the panel's top Democrat.
The deal would pave the path for next week's bipartisan committee vote. When the U.S. House of Representatives could consider the measure is unknown.
According to the bill, every commercial aircraft would have to use ADS-B, and military helicopters would have to use it when they are close to civilian aircraft. When the accident occurred in January close to Reagan Washington National Airport, the helicopter involved was not using ADS-B.
It would do away with military helicopters' exemptions from ADS-B use for competency, training, and flights by federal officials lower than cabinet status.
Along with requiring thorough worldwide airport safety reviews not just at Reagan the measure is also anticipated to assess the hazards posed to commercial flights by military aircraft, helicopters, drones, emergency first responders, and powered lift operations.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and lawmakers of both parties have questioned why the F.A.A. did nothing for years to resolve near-misses involving military helicopters near Reagan.
The law also calls for legally binding memorandums between the FAA and the Army Inspector General's Office, which was required to start a safety coordination audit after declining to do so.
What safety features does the bipartisan aviation bill entail?
One requirement mandates that all civilian planes and military helicopters flying in close proximity to civilian planes be equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology by the end of 2031. This improves situational awareness and communications through real-time tracking of aircraft and is designed to reduce the risk of a catastrophic collision.
Establishes new requirements for cockpit voice recorders to capture the last twenty-five hours of audio for investigatory purposes and to enhance safety.
Establishment of modernized surface detection technology that can track aircraft and vehicles on runways and taxiways to mitigate runway incursions and collisions.
Opportunity for increased FAA oversight of aircraft design, manufacturing, and foreign repair stations, with improved transparency, accountability, and compliance in response to FAA oversight.