Sen. Moran Joins Colleagues in Introducing ROTOR Act to Mandate the Use of In-Flight Safety Technology

WASHINGTON - On the six-month anniversary of the DCA tragedy, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) - chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation - joined Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today in introducing the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act. Sens. Moran and Cruz were joined at a press conference announcing this legislation by family members of the DCA crash victims, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford. The ROTOR Act was also cosponsored by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

"Six months after the tragic midair collision at Washington National Airport, we are introducing legislation to improve in-flight safety to make certain that our nation's airspace is safe for the traveling public," said Sen. Moran. "This legislation will close FAA regulatory loopholes, require research on improving the safety of high-volume mixed-traffic airports and includes my legislation to make certain that aircraft operating at busy airports like DCA are equipped and transmitting critical positioning data to improve communication with air traffic control."

"Today is an auspicious day for aviation safety-a day marked by a revived spirit of hope and a shared determination to act in the face of an unforgettable tragedy," said Sen. Cruz. "American skies must be as safe as possible, and our duty as lawmakers is to ensure that they are. The ROTOR Act represents a common-sense step forward in aviation safety reform. One of the most important parts of this bill is the requirement that all aircraft, military and civilian, use both ADS-B Out and ADS-B In. We will not wait for another accident to happen before we finally protect American skies. We have made it abundantly clear that when American lives are at risk, excuses are not acceptable."

The ROTOR Act would:

• Require all aircraft operators to be equipped with automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) In technology and transmit such information. ADS-B In is a technology for aircraft to receive location signals from other nearby aircraft and ground technology, improving safety in the sky and on runways.
• Close FAA loophole that permitted the Army Black Hawk to fly without broadcasting ADS-B Out. The ROTOR Act would allow the FAA to only grant exceptions for "sensitive government missions," not training flights.
• Require the FAA to review helicopter routes near airports. The FAA would comprehensively evaluate the airspace at congested airports - where helicopters and airlines are flying near each other - nationwide.
• Direct the Army Office of Inspector General to initiate a safety coordination audit. The Army Inspector General has declined to voluntarily review the Army's aviation safety practices.
• Initiate FAA study on dynamic restricted areas for helicopters near airports. The FAA would review whether audio and visual signals could be deployed to reduce airspace confusion and voice traffic conflicts.
• Repeal a FY2019 NDAA provision that exempted the Department of Defense from enacted ADS-B transmission requirements.

In May, Sen. Moran introduced legislation to require all aircraft operating in Class B airspace to install and use ADS-B In and Out and repealed the FY2019 NDAA provision permitting exemptions to the military's use of ADS-B requirements. Elements of his legislation were included in the ROTOR Act. Class B airspace is a designation for high-volume airspace typically around the nation's busiest airports. Currently the Secretary of Transportation may grant exemptions to certain aircraft to fly without active ADS-B systems through congested airspace.

Full text of the legislation can be found HERE.

A one pager on the legislation can be viewed HERE.

Watch Sen. Moran's Remarks on Introduction HERE



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