Curtis, Merkley Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Aviation Safety After Slackline-Helicopter Tragedy

WASHINGTON —U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act , bipartisan legislation that would direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address urgent aviation safety issues by reviewing and updating existing safeguards for temporary obstructions in the low-altitude airspace, such as slacklines. The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ). “High-adventure activities in Utah, like slacklining, should not come at the cost of aviation safety, particularly for helicopter pilots who transport patients, fight wildfires, and support search and rescue missions,” said Senator Curtis . “Our bipartisan bill takes a practical look at where the FAA can modernize its policies, improve coordination, and reduce unnecessary risks so everyone sharing our airspace can do so more safely.” “Strengthening aviation safety is something that both Republicans and Democrats can get behind, especially following the tragic slackline collision that took the lives of four Oregonians earlier this year,” said Senator Merkley . “The FAA must do all it can to keep the flying public safe, and our bipartisan McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act directs the agency to prioritize aviation safety. We must move swiftly to reduce the risk of any similar tragedy in the future.” “Congress must act with urgency to ensure federal regulators are taking every possible step to prevent low-flying aircraft crashes with slacklines like the tragedy that cost the lives of four Oregonians earlier this year,” said Senator Wyden. “This bill would accomplish that goal by setting deadlines for the Federal Aviation Administration to update and improve its policies and regulations for low-altitude airspace safety.” “David, Katelyn, Rachel, and Faith lost their lives in an Arizona helicopter crash that never should have happened. I’ve met with their family. No one should have to go through what they’ve been through. This bill makes sure the FAA acts quickly to prevent tragedies like this from happening again,” said Senator Kelly. Background: The introduction of the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act follows a deadly helicopter crash caused by a collision with a slackline on January 2, 2026, that tragically claimed the lives of four Oregonians—David McCarty and his three nieces Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty, and Katelyn Heideman. The bipartisan bill would instruct the FAA to use its authorities to review existing policies and regulations related to low-altitude airspace safety, including identifying appropriate policy, operational, or technical improvements such as updated requirements related to markings on slacklines. The full text of the bill can be found here . The bipartisan McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act is supported by Southern Utah University (SUU) Aviation, Vertical Aviation International (VAI), National Transportation Aviation Association (NATA), Balloon Federation of America (BFA), United Aerial Firefighters Association (UAFA), Air Medical Operators Association (AMOA), Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS), National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), BackcountryPilot.org, American Spray Drone Coalition, Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Life Flight Network, National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA), and Commercial Drone Alliance. On behalf of the McCarty and Heideman family, “We are very grateful and excited to see the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act be introduced. It is a crucial and urgent step towards making the airspace safer for pilots, passengers, cargo, and anyone using the airspace for work or recreation. We look forward to working on getting this across the finish line!” “At Southern Utah University’s School of Aviation, we are preparing the next generation of pilots to operate safely in an increasingly complex National Airspace System. That requires more than strong flight training, it requires pilots to have timely, accurate, and easily accessible information about hazards in the airspace around them. The McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act takes a practical approach by improving transparency, strengthening coordination, and examining how temporary obstruction information can be integrated into the digital flight-planning tools pilots use every day. Safety of flight and protection of the National Airspace System must remain our highest priorities, and we appreciate Senator Curtis’s leadership on this important bipartisan legislation,” said Michael Mower, Executive Director, Chief Instructor Southern Utah University’s School of Aviation. “Wildfire airspace overlaps public lands and recreation. Formal coordination with the FAA, Forest Service, BLM, and Park Service—paired with real outreach and right sized penalties for creating low altitude hazards—prevents tragedies before they happen. We strongly support this bill and urge swift passage,” said Paul Peterson, Executive Director, United Aerial Firefighters Association. “The National Agricultural Aviation Association firmly endorses the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act . The requirements this act places on the FAA will help ensure no more aviators operating in the low altitude airspace lose their life because of an unmarked slackline or other hazard strung across the landscape,” said Matthew Woolard, President, National Agricultural Aviation Association. “The American Spray Drone Coalition (ASDC) strongly endorses the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act , reflecting our deep commitment to promoting high standards of low-altitude airspace safety for both crewed and uncrewed aviators. By directing the FAA to review existing safety policies, this legislation takes a critical first step toward assessing necessary improvements for temporary obstruction markings and ensuring obstacle data can be seamlessly integrated into modern digital flight planning tools,” said Eric Ringer, President, American Spray Drone Association .