Overview
- House leaders scheduled a floor vote next week on the Senate-passed ROTOR Act, which cleared the Senate by unanimous consent in December.
- The newly unveiled ALERT Act from House transportation and armed services leaders seeks to address roughly 50 NTSB recommendations with measures on collision-avoidance tech, helicopter routes, ATC training and FAA safety practices.
- The House draft would mandate ADS-B In capabilities, expand adoption of advanced collision-avoidance systems, review DCA airspace procedures and repeal NDAA language that allowed military waivers.
- NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said the crash would not have occurred if the Cruz bill had been law and criticized NDAA waiver provisions that safety advocates say undercut uniform ADS-B rules.
- A coalition of airline labor groups and the Families of Flight 5342 urged swift House passage of robust, integrated cockpit ADS-B In requirements, noting the Black Hawk was not broadcasting ADS-B Out and that ADS-B In could have given the airliner more time to react.