Senate Bill Would Require ADS-B on All Civilian and Military Aircraft

Supporters say the proposal will help prevent a repeat of the fatal aircraft collision over Washington, D.C., in January.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 03:51 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

With exceptions for urgent missions, helicopters are barred from entering Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport airspace. [Courtesy: Nicholas Priest/U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

Senator Ted Cruz introduced the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, aiming to mandate ADS-B Out and In navigation technology for all civilian and military aircraft to prevent collisions.
The bill was unveiled six months after a collision near Washington D.C. between an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk, which killed 67 people, where the military helicopter's ADS-B system was not broadcasting.
The NTSB and Transportation Secretary strongly support the ROTOR Act, emphasizing that universal ADS-B standards are a "game-changer" for safety and that military aircraft should adhere to the same safety requirements as commercial flights in congested airspace.

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Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Tuesday announced the introduction of a bill intended to prevent collisions between commercial and military aircraft.

The Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform bill, or ROTOR Act, would require all aircraft, civilian and military, to use ADS-B Out and ADS-B In aviation navigation technology. It was unveiled exactly six months after American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people on board both aircraft.