The bipartisan ROTOR Act, aimed at closing air safety gaps by mandating ADS-B navigation technology on civilian and military aircraft, failed to pass the U.S. House of Representatives despite prior unanimous Senate approval.
Opposition emerged from the U.S. Defense Department, citing budgetary burdens and national security risks if military aircraft were universally required to use ADS-B, and from some House Republicans who proposed a less stringent alternative, the ALERT Act.
The bill's defeat highlights an ongoing debate between supporters, including victim families and airline unions, who advocate for mandatory collision avoidance technology, and critics prioritizing military operational security and cost concerns.
A high-profile bill intended to close some of the air safety gaps highlighted by a fatal collision over Washington, D.C., last year failed to pass the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The ROTOR Act did not garner the two-thirds majority needed to pass under a special fast-track procedure. The final vote was 264-133, according to The Hill.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
![U.S. Capitol [Credit: Shutterstock]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/shutterstock_1485525812-scaled1-e1715361203261-3.jpg)
