NTSB Slams House Aviation Bill, Cites 'Watered-Down' Safety Measures

The head of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has publicly condemned a new House aviation safety bill, labeling its provisions as “watered-down” and misleading. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, serving since August 2021, stated the proposed legislation does not adequately address the agency's safety recommendations issued after a midair collision near Washington, D.C., resulted in 67 deaths.

The dispute highlights a significant rift between the independent safety agency and key lawmakers over how to prevent future tragedies. At the center of the conflict is the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act, a bill crafted by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Homendy argues the bill falls short of the NTSB's comprehensive proposals, particularly concerning collision avoidance technology.

“We can have disagreements over policy all day. But when something is sold as these are the NTSB recommendations and that is not factually accurate, we have a problem with that,” Homendy said. “You’re using their pain to move your agenda forward.”

The Core Dispute: ADS-B In Mandates

The primary point of contention is the mandate for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast In (ADS-B In) technology. While most aircraft in controlled airspace are already required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to have ADS-B Out, which broadcasts an aircraft's position, ADS-B In allows pilots to receive that data, providing a direct, real-time view of surrounding traffic. The NTSB has recommended mandating ADS-B In since 2008.

The investigation into the collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter concluded that if both aircraft had been equipped with active ADS-B In systems, the collision would have been prevented. The NTSB issued 50 recommendations following its investigation, with the ADS-B In mandate being a cornerstone.

Homendy and victim advocacy groups argue the ALERT Act weakens this requirement, potentially relegating the decision to a lengthy rulemaking process rather than a direct legislative mandate. The NTSB released a side-by-side comparison illustrating what it sees as significant gaps between its recommendations and the House bill's provisions.

Legislative Stalemate and Victim Advocacy

The House bill was introduced shortly before a vote on the Senate's Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act. The ROTOR Act, which passed the Senate unanimously, included a stronger mandate for ADS-B In and placed stricter limits on military exemptions for turning off transponders. However, the ROTOR Act failed to secure the necessary two-thirds majority for passage in the House.

Leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen, defended their legislation. They stated they “believe the ALERT bill they crafted effectively addresses the 50 recommendations that NTSB made” and pledged to work with stakeholders to find the best solution.

However, families of the crash victims have sided with the NTSB. Doug Lane, who lost his wife and son, called the House bill “not really a serious attempt to address the NTSB recommendations.” Matt Collins, whose brother died in the crash, stated that a requirement for ADS-B In is “non-negotiable for us as family members, extremely non-negotiable.”

The NTSB has formally communicated to the relevant House committees that it cannot support the ALERT Act in its current form. “When we issue a recommendation, those recommendations are aimed at preventing a tragedy from happening again,” Homendy stated. “And if you’re just going to give us half a loaf, it’s not going to do it. We’re not gonna save lives.”

The committee is expected to mark up the bill in the coming weeks, though its path forward remains uncertain given the strong opposition from the nation's lead transportation safety investigator.

Why This Matters

This legislative conflict places a spotlight on the recurring tension between NTSB safety recommendations and the political and economic considerations of implementing them. For the aviation industry, the outcome will determine the future technical standards for collision avoidance systems in U.S. airspace. The debate underscores the challenge of translating accident investigation findings into enforceable regulations, a process critical for maintaining and improving aviation safety standards.

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