The Senate Passes ROTOR Act to Strengthen Aviation Safety

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Bob Onder (R-MO) is leading the House companion to the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, which has just passed the United States Senate. Working alongside Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), the legislation strengthens aviation safety and oversight. Rep. Onder, a licensed pilot, serves on the Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The ROTOR Act will eliminate a loophole that allows military aircraft to operate without Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Out transmitting – a technology that broadcasts an aircraft’s precise location. It requires all aircraft operating in high-risk and high-volume airspace to use ADS-B In to enhance pilots’ visualization. In addition, the bill requires safety reviews at all major and mid-sized airports, strengthens coordination and information sharing between the FAA and the Department of Defense, and calls for The Army Inspector General to audit Army aviation operations, particularly around the National Capital Region. 

“The collision that occurred in January over the skies of our nation’s capital was a horrific tragedy. Sixty-seven lives were lost, with no survivors. My heart goes out to every family who lost a loved one, and to the first responders who confronted unimaginable devastation,” said Congressman Bob Onder.

“That tragedy made clear that serious gaps exist in our aviation oversight—gaps that demand action. I’m encouraged and grateful that the Senate has now passed Senator Cruz’s ROTOR Act, which takes an important step forward by closing loopholes that allow government and military aircraft to operate without broadcasting their location and by requiring modern, reliable tracking technology on all aircraft.

“This is commonsense, responsible legislation, and it reflects our obligation to protect the American people. I’m thrilled to see this bill advance in the Senate, and I’m proud to be leading the fight in the House to get it across the finish line.” 

Upon passage, Sen. Cruz said,“This bill will be a fitting way to honor the lives of those lost nearly one year ago over the Potomac River. The goal of the victims’ families is to ensure no one else endures a similar avoidable, completely unnecessary, tragedy. The ROTOR Act will save lives.”

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Background Information

On January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342 was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when air traffic controllers asked the pilots if they could redirect to land on a shorter runway. The pilots confirmed they could.

Nearby, an Army Black Hawk helicopter was conducting its annual proficiency training. Less than 30 seconds before the two aircraft collided, a controller radioed the Black Hawk to ask whether it had the incoming flight in sight. Moments later, the collision occurred and there were no survivors.

One of the passengers on board was from the St. Louis region - a woman named Asra Hussain. The entire St. Louis community stands with her family as they grieve this unimaginable loss. We mourn with them, and we honor Asra, a Missourian, a newlywed, a daughter, and a friend. 

At a three-day hearing in July, the National Transportation Safety Board revealed a critical detail: the Army Black Hawk had not broadcast its location via ADS-B for 730 days prior to the crash. Without this tracking data, the helicopter was effectively invisible to other aircraft, leaving both flight crews without situational awareness.

The ADS-B system provides more accurate and continuous information than traditional radar, transmitting an aircraft’s location, speed, altitude, and other critical data in real time. 

The ROTOR Act is H.R. 6222 in the House of Representatives and S. 2503 in the Senate.