Summary
Aims to prevent mid-air collisions by requiring aircraft to have new safety technology, changing helicopter routes, and updating air traffic control rules.
What problem does this solve?
A deadly mid-air collision near a major airport showed serious safety risks with helicopter routes, air traffic control, and the lack of modern collision avoidance technology. This bill mandates new safety equipment on aircraft, revises dangerous flight paths, and updates air traffic control training to prevent similar tragedies.
Who does this affect?
- Aircraft Owners and Operators
- Department of Defense
- Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers
What does this bill do?
Mandates collision prevention technology for most aircraft
Requires most non-military aircraft to be equipped with collision prevention technology that provides audible and visual alerts to the pilot by December 31, 2031.
Requires advanced collision avoidance systems for airliners
Directs the FAA to issue a rule requiring large passenger and cargo aircraft to upgrade to a more advanced collision avoidance system (ACAS Xa) by December 31, 2031.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 201
Header:
Department of defense matters relating to aviation safety
Establishes new safety rules for military aircraft
Creates new safety requirements for Department of Defense aircraft, including the use of tracking technology (ADS-B Out) in the Washington D.C. area and installing collision prevention systems.
Permanently closes a dangerous helicopter route
Prohibits flights on a segment of Helicopter Route 4 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which was identified as a key cause of a 2025 fatal mid-air collision.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 118
Header:
Further modifications to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport area helicopter routes
Revises all helicopter routes near DCA airport
Requires the FAA to evaluate and change helicopter routes near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to ensure they are safely separated from airplane flight paths.
Improves air traffic controller training
Mandates new and recurring training for air traffic controllers on how to manage threats and errors, and on the proper use of visual separation procedures.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 111
Header:
Operational rates at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Updates airport capacity rules at DCA
Directs the FAA to update rules for the aircraft arrival rate at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to ensure it does not exceed a safe capacity.
Requires new agreement between FAA and Department of Defense
Mandates a formal agreement between the FAA and the Department of Defense to manage the safe operation of military aircraft in the national airspace.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 123
Header:
Notification of close proximity encounters and analysis of data
Creates new reporting process for near-misses
Establishes a system to notify all pilots and controllers involved in a near-miss or other close call and to analyze the data to identify and fix safety risks.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 207
Header:
Transparency regarding midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025
Requires transparency on 2025 crash investigation
Requires the Army to give Congress its investigation into the 2025 mid-air collision and directs the Inspector General to review the Army's actions in response to the findings.
What is the real world impact?
•
Responds directly to a deadly mid-air collision
Was created in response to a tragic 2025 mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people. It aims to implement the 50 safety recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board to prevent a similar disaster.
•
Forces modernization of aviation safety technology
Mandates the adoption of newer collision avoidance systems for many aircraft, pushing the aviation industry to upgrade from older, less effective technologies.
•
Imposes significant costs on aircraft owners
Requires many private, commercial, and military aircraft owners to purchase and install expensive new collision avoidance technology by specific deadlines, which could be a financial burden for some.
When does this start?
The bill sets multiple deadlines for studies, new rules, and equipment installation over the next several years.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 118(a)
Header:
Further modifications to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport area helicopter routes
DCA helicopter route revisions
The FAA must evaluate and revise helicopter routes near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport within 90 days of the bill becoming law.
Collision prevention tech final rule
The FAA must issue a final rule requiring collision prevention technology on most aircraft within 2 years of the bill becoming law.
DOD-FAA agreement
The Department of Defense and the Department of Transportation must enter into a new safety agreement by September 30, 2026.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 2658(a)
Header:
Manned rotary wing aviation safety management system
DOD helicopter safety system
The Department of Defense must establish a new safety management system for manned helicopters by March 1, 2027.
Aircraft equipage deadline
Most aircraft will be required to have the new collision prevention technologies installed and working by December 31, 2031.