Cruz pushes ROTOR Act to mandate military ADS-B use near Washington D.C.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell are urgently seeking the approval of the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, aiming to mandate that military aircraft broadcast their precise location using ADS-B technology when operating in congested airspace. This push comes in response to a provision included in a massive defense authorization bill that would allow military aircraft to obtain waivers, effectively exempting them from location broadcast requirements. Critics argue this measure would dangerously undo safety reforms implemented following a January midair collision near Washington D.C. that claimed 67 lives.

Before the January 29th crash involving an airliner and an Army helicopter, military rotorcraft routinely flew through the crowded airspace surrounding the nation’s capital without utilizing the crucial ADS-B system. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) subsequently mandated ADS-B usage for all aircraft in March. The new defense bill provision, which Cruz alleges was "airdropped in at the last moment," has drawn sharp criticism from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, major airlines, and key transportation unions, who warn it compromises safety around Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA).

With the defense bill expected to pass, Cruz stated he will seek action to reimpose the ADS-B restrictions as part of the government funding package before the current continuing resolution expires at the end of next month. The NTSB has previously raised concerns over 85 near misses reported around DCA in the years preceding the crash, highlighting the risks posed by military helicopter routes that flew dangerously close to landing commercial aircraft. The ROTOR Act, which requires full location transparency, has broad support from the White House, the FAA, the NTSB, and the families of the crash victims.