Sen. Moran Applauds New FAA Safety Standard Requiring Radar Tracking in Busy Airspace

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) - chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation - today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced new aviation safety protocols mandating the use of radar-only tracking for aircraft in busy airspace:

"I commend Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford for taking this important step to improve the safety of our skies by requiring air traffic controllers to use radar technology to coordinate aviation traffic near our nation's busiest airports. Our aviation system is fragile, and the tragic midair collision on January 29th highlighted the urgent need to strengthen and modernize safety standards. The implementation of radar-only tracking for helicopters and airplanes was recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board following its investigation into the crash of Flight 5342, and I will continue working to pass the ROTOR Act to require all aircraft to use real-time location tracking technology in busy airspace."

Sen. Moran's ROTOR Act would implement broad adoption of location-transmitting technology, known as Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B), for planes and helicopters in busy airspace. The ROTOR Act has passed the Senate but still awaits passage in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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