This article summarizes reporting by The Associated Press, The Washington Post, and NTSB public datas.

Senate Passes ROTOR Act to Close Military Flight Tracking Loophole Following D.C. Tragedy

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, a critical piece of safety legislation designed to prevent mid-air collisions between military and civilian aircraft. The bill’s passage comes nearly a year after a catastrophic crash near Washington, D.C., claimed 67 lives, exposing dangerous gaps in airspace coordination.

According to reporting by The Associated Press and WTOP, the Senate moved quickly to pass the measure (S. 2503) just hours after approving the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. The NDAA contained a provision that safety advocates described as a “loophole,” which allowed Military-Aircraft to fly without broadcasting their location during training missions. The ROTOR Act explicitly closes this gap, mandating that military aircraft broadcast their position during training and proficiency flights.

The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives, where sponsors hope for final approval by January 2026.

Correcting the “Dark” Flight Loophole

The legislative maneuvering on Wednesday involved two distinct bills. First, the Senate passed the massive annual defense spending bill (NDAA). According to legislative analysis, Section 373 of the NDAA permitted military aircraft to disable tracking equipment for “sensitive government missions.” Critics and safety officials argued this definition was being interpreted too broadly, effectively allowing routine training flights to operate “in the dark” within crowded civilian airspace.

To address this immediately, Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) pushed the ROTOR Act through by unanimous consent. As reported by The Washington Post, this “fix-it” bill overrides the NDAA provision regarding training flights.

Key Provisions of the ROTOR Act

• Mandatory Broadcast (ADS-B Out): Military aircraft must use Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology to transmit their location during training and proficiency flights.
• Situational Awareness (ADS-B In): By 2031, all aircraft, civilian and military, must be equipped with “ADS-B In” technology, allowing pilots to view other aircraft positions directly in the cockpit.
• Safety Review: The FAA is mandated to conduct a comprehensive review of airspace safety around major airports.

This legislation should save lives.

, Senator Ted Cruz (via Senate Commerce Committee statement)

The Catalyst: A Preventable Tragedy

The urgency behind this legislation stems from the horrific mid-air collision on January 29, 2025. According to NTSB investigation reports summarized by the media, American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet, collided with a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

The crash resulted in 67 fatalities: 60 passengers and 4 crew members on the regional jet, and 3 soldiers aboard the helicopter. Investigators determined that the Army helicopter was conducting a training mission with its ADS-B transponder turned off. Consequently, the airliner’s collision avoidance systems could not detect the military aircraft, and air traffic controllers lacked precise visibility of the helicopter’s movements.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy has been a vocal advocate for the reform, stating that the tragedy “could have been avoided” had the helicopter been broadcasting its location. Furthermore, NTSB data revealed a troubling pattern: in the three years leading up to the crash, there were 85 near-misses involving military and civilian aircraft in the D.C. area alone.

Technological Mandates and Industry Pushback

The ROTOR Act pushes the Aviation industry toward full adoption of ADS-B technology. While “ADS-B Out” (transmitting location) is already standard for most commercial aircraft, “ADS-B In” (receiving data from others) is not universally deployed. The CRJ-700 involved in the January crash lacked “In” capability, meaning the pilots relied entirely on Air Traffic Control for separation.

Privacy and Security Concerns

While safety officials celebrate the bill, some stakeholders have raised objections. The Department of Defense (DoD) has historically resisted broad tracking mandates, citing operational security (OPSEC) risks if adversaries can track military movements. The ROTOR Act attempts to balance this by limiting the mandate to training and proficiency flights, rather than combat or sensitive covert operations.

Additionally, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has expressed concerns regarding data privacy. According to reports from Aviation International News, AOPA President Darren Pleasance argued that third parties currently use ADS-B data for non-safety purposes, such as collecting landing fees or tracking private citizens for enforcement actions. The association has lobbied for strict data-use limitations to ensure pilot privacy is not compromised by the new mandates.

AirPro News Analysis

The inclusion of a 2031 mandate for “ADS-B In” represents a significant shift in regulatory philosophy. Historically, the FAA has focused on “ADS-B Out” to aid air traffic controllers. Mandating “In” capability shifts the burden of situational awareness directly into the cockpit. For regional airlines and general aviation operators, this will likely necessitate a substantial retrofit program over the next five years. While the cost will be high, the January 2025 tragedy demonstrated that relying solely on ground-based control is insufficient in mixed-use airspace where military assets operate alongside commercial jets.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the ROTOR Act become law?

The bill passed the Senate on December 17, 2025. It must now pass the House of Representatives. Sponsors are optimistic it will be signed by the President in January 2026.

Does this apply to all military flights?

No. The bill specifically targets training and proficiency flights. Sensitive government missions may still be exempt from broadcasting their location to preserve operational security.

What is the difference between ADS-B Out and In?

“Out” transmits an aircraft’s GPS data to ground stations and other planes. “In” allows an aircraft to receive that data and display nearby traffic on a screen in the cockpit.

Sources: Associated Press, The Washington Post, NTSB Reports