Blackburn Joins Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Improve Aviation Safety and Air Traffic Control

Blackburn Joins Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Improve Aviation Safety and Air Traffic Control
August 13, 2025
NASHVILLE, Tenn. –
U.S. Senator
Marsha Blackburn
(R-Tenn.) joined Senator
Ted Cruz
(R-Texas) and seven of their colleagues in introducing the
Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act
to improve aviation safety. This legislation comes six months after the tragic January 29
th
midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
“The United States must mark a new age in aviation safety in the wake of the horrific plane crash at Reagan National Airport,”
said Senator Blackburn.
“The ROTOR Act would make American skies and passengers safer by requiring military and civilian aircraft to use modern location technology to communicate their location with greater precision.”
This legislation is co-sponsored by Senators
Jerry Moran
(R-Kan.),
Ted Budd
(R-N.C.),
Shelly Moore Capito
(R-W.Va.),
Roger Marshall
(R-Kan.),
Eric Schmitt
(R-Mo.),
Tim Sheehy
(R-Mont.), and
Todd Young
(R-Ind.).
BACKGROUND:
On January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk military helicopter collided midair near DCA, tragically claiming 67 lives. Since then, there have been discoveries of known safety gaps.
Immediately following the tragic January 29
th
incident, the Senate Commerce Committee held a briefing with the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Army.
THE ROTOR ACT
The
ROTOR Act
would establish new requirements for virtually all aircraft and helicopters to use Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B). ADS-B technology allows aircraft to accurately communicate their location with greater precision than traditional radar. The
ROTOR Act
would require all aircraft in controlled airspace to be equipped with ADS-B In, which will allow pilots to communicate better with other aircraft, air traffic control, and vehicles on the ground.
The legislation would also close a loophole that permits the Department of Defense to fly aircraft domestically without having to use so-called “ADS-B Out” technology. Additionally, the bill would enhance oversight of helicopter routes near commercial service airports, require quarterly reports on ADS-B Out compliance, and study potential improvements to the airspace around DCA.
Click
here
for bill text.
https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/8/blackburn-joins-colleagues-in-introducing-legislation-to-improve-aviation-safety-and-air-traffic-control