Senate Committee Advances Aviation Safety Legislation Following Tragic Collision
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – On Tuesday, a U.S. Senate committee endorsed critical aviation safety legislation aimed at implementing sophisticated aircraft-tracking technology. This action follows a harrowing January incident involving a collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter, resulting in the tragic loss of 67 lives.
The proposed legislation mandates that all civilian aircraft, alongside military helicopters operating in proximity to civilian planes, must be outfitted with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology by the conclusion of 2031.
Additionally, it seeks to enhance oversight of mixed jet and helicopter operations, particularly regarding flight routes near commercial airports.
Notably, the Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the collision was not utilizing ADS-B, a state-of-the-art surveillance system that transmits an aircraft’s location in real time.
Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz remarked that this legislation “closes a perilous loophole,” which previously permitted military aircraft to navigate domestic airspace without promptly and accurately communicating their positions, a standard adhered to by commercial aircraft.
Bipartisan concerns have arisen, with lawmakers and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy questioning the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) prolonged inaction regarding numerous close encounters involving military helicopters near Reagan National Airport.
The legislation requires safety evaluations at Reagan National and other major airports and directs the Army Inspector General’s Office to initiate a comprehensive safety coordination audit.
In April, the FAA mandated the use of ADS-B for government helicopters operating near Reagan National, following a near-miss incident, and in May, the agency prohibited Army helicopter flights around the Pentagon due to safety concerns.
Further measures to establish greater separation between helicopters and jets have also been implemented.
Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, commended the bill, noting the board has advocated for the incorporation of ADS-B technology for three decades.
Senator Maria Cantwell, the committee’s leading Democrat, vigorously championed a deadline of 2031 for ADS-B implementation, asserting that it would “enhance situational awareness and provide traffic advisories and alerts for operations both in the air and on the ground at airports.”
Cantwell highlighted an NTSB report from March, revealing that since 2021, there had been 15,200 separation incidents involving commercial aircraft and helicopters near Reagan National, with 85 of those categorized as near-collisions.
Families affected by the mid-air tragedy have expressed their support for the initiative.
American Airlines endorsed the bipartisan measure vigorously, while United Airlines committed to collaborating with lawmakers “to ensure this bill fulfills our shared objectives.”
Source link: Yahoo.com.
