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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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 ROTOR Act to prevent aircraft collisions, requiring all civilian and military aircraft to use ADS-B Out and ADS-B In aviation navigation technology.
The bill was unveiled six months after a fatal collision between an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people and involved a military aircraft whose ADS-B system was not broadcasting.
The legislation aims to eliminate a "double standard" in aviation safety, with strong support from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, who call universal ADS-B adoption a "game-changer" for saving lives.

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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.