Planes Must Get New Radar Tech to Stop Deadly Midair Crashes
The House is set to vote on a bill that would force every aircraft near busy airports to carry two kinds of radar tools:
- Position‑reporting radar that tells the world where it is, and
- Collision‑avoidance radar that lets pilots see other planes around them.
The change comes after a 2023 collision near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people when an American Airlines jet hit a U.S. Army helicopter.
Senate vs. House Approaches
| Feature | Senate (ROTOR Act) | House Bill |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate requirement | Both radar tools mandatory right away | No immediate requirement |
| Regulatory action | Direct mandate | Calls for study on best technology before final rule |
| Supporters | Families of crash victims, NTSB, some safety advocates | Airline groups (American Airlines, general aviation associations) |
| Criticisms | Not covering all 50 NTSB recommendations | Not comprehensive enough, delays solution |
Families of the crash victims back the Senate bill, arguing that quick action on collision‑avoidance tech is vital and that delays could have saved lives. Airline groups support the House bill but argue it falls short of a comprehensive solution.
The Department of Defense withdrew its earlier support for the ROTOR act, citing budget and security concerns. House leaders also criticize the Senate bill for not covering all 50 recommendations from the NTSB investigation.
The Role of ADS‑B
Both bills aim to improve a system called Automatic Dependent Surveillance‑Broadcast (ADS‑B).
- Current aircraft already send their position to the sky, but many do not receive that information.
- ADS‑B In would let pilots see where other planes are, giving them a better chance to avoid collisions.
- The NTSB says this missing feature contributed to the fatal crash.
Advocates say that waiting for more data or a longer study is not acceptable when the risk still exists. They urge lawmakers to pass the ROTOR act now and then work on a broader package that addresses all safety gaps identified by the NTSB.
