ALPA Renews Call for Strengthened ADS-B Requirements

Union argues that integrated ADS-B In could have prevented January 2025 midair collision in Washington, D.C.

Zach Vasile

Monday, June 01, 2026 at 04:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A U.S. Army Black Hawk flies over Washington, D.C. [Credit: Nicholas Priest/U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and a pilot's family are urging Congress to mandate ADS-B In technology for all civilian and military aircraft in upcoming aviation safety legislation.
This advocacy follows a fatal mid-air collision where a military helicopter's ADS-B Out system was inactive, with proponents believing universal ADS-B In use could prevent similar tragedies.
While the Senate passed the ROTOR Act, which would mandate ADS-B In, the House passed its own ALERT Act, which critics argue fails to adequately strengthen ADS-B requirements for military aircraft.
ALPA's objective is to ensure the final aviation safety bill incorporates the ADS-B In mandate, despite concerns from some about potential national security implications for military operations.

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The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the family of a pilot killed in last year’s midair collision in Washington, D.C., are calling on lawmakers to strengthen ADS-B requirements as Congress works out new aviation safety legislation.

ALPA president Jason Ambrosi said Monday that the organization wants to see a federal mandate for the use of ADS-B In technology across both civilian and military aircraft. Most aircraft are already required to use ADS-B Out, which continuously broadcasts position and altitude, but use of ADS-B In, which receives air traffic information, is optional.