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 ROTOR Act, a bill aimed at preventing aircraft collisions by mandating ADS-B Out and ADS-B In navigation technology for all civilian and military aircraft.
The legislation 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., where the military aircraft's ADS-B was not broadcasting.
The NTSB and Transportation Secretary support the bill, emphasizing that there should be no double standard in aviation safety for military training flights operating in congested airspace, calling ADS-B a "game-changer."

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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.