In the wake of rising concerns about midair near-misses, this aviation safety bill takes several steps to reduce risk in shared airspace. It requires airlines to install ADS-B In collision-avoidance technology within four years and tightens the rules on military and government flights that currently operate without standard tracking equipment — narrowing the definition of which missions qualify for an exemption. The FAA would be ordered to conduct safety reviews of helicopter, drone, and military flight paths around Reagan National and all other major commercial airports. After any fatal transport airplane accident, the FAA would be required to run a formal risk assessment and report findings to Congress within 30 days — a change from the current system where that analysis is optional. The bill also shields the FAA workforce from hiring freezes, staffing cuts, and deferred-resignation programs, extends the maximum air traffic controller hiring requirement through 2033, and orders an audit of the FAA's whistleblower program to ensure safety complaints are actually being addressed.
Congressional Summary
Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025This bill addresses aviation safety, such as through increasing requirements for aircraft tracking, communication, and coordination with the military. The bill also addresses Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) workforce issues.For example, the bill revises and increases requirements for using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipment, which transmits information (e.g., location and weather information) between aircraft and air traffic control.Under the bill, aircraft must generally operate with ADS-B In (receiving) equipment. The FAA must issue performance requirements for the equipment to provide safety-enhancing capabilities (e.g., facilitating aircraft collision avoidance) for flight crews.Further, current FAA regulations allow aircraft performing a sensitive government mission to be excepted from requirements for using ADS-B Out (broadcasting) equipment. This bill limits which flights may be considered sensitive government missions (e.g., not training flights).The FAA must also (1) establish an office to coordinate airspace usage of military aircraft, (2) review the safety of certain flight operations and routes around airports, and (3) enter into memoranda of understanding with military agencies for safety information sharing.The FAA must conduct a Transport Airplane Risk Assessment Methodology analysis for any transport airplane accidents in the United States that result in a fatality.The bill also addresses FAA workforce issues, such as byexcluding the FAA workforce from a federal hiring freeze, deferred resignation program, voluntary furlough, or reduction in force;supporting the recruitment and training of air traffic controllers; andrequiring strict adherence to federal conflict of interest requirements.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-06-05
- Date Added
- 2026-03-30