U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and seven other senators in introducing the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act. The bill aims to improve aviation safety following a fatal midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025.
“The United States must mark a new age in aviation safety in the wake of the horrific plane crash at Reagan National Airport,” said Senator Blackburn. “The ROTOR Act would make American skies and passengers safer by requiring military and civilian aircraft to use modern location technology to communicate their location with greater precision.”
The ROTOR Act is co-sponsored by Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).
On January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided midair with a Black Hawk military helicopter near DCA, resulting in 67 fatalities. Investigations after the incident revealed gaps in current aviation safety protocols.
Following the accident, the Senate Commerce Committee conducted a briefing with representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Army.
If enacted, the ROTOR Act would require nearly all aircraft and helicopters operating in controlled airspace to be equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) technology. This system allows for more accurate communication of an aircraft’s location compared to traditional radar methods. The legislation also seeks to close an existing loophole that permits Department of Defense aircraft to operate domestically without using ADS-B Out technology. Additional provisions include enhanced oversight of helicopter routes near commercial airports, mandatory quarterly reports on ADS-B Out compliance, and a study on potential improvements for airspace management around DCA.
Further details about the bill can be found by accessing its text online.
