[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2503 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 269
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2503
To require all aircraft to be equipped with Automatic Dependent
Surveillance-Broadcast In, to improve aviation safety, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 29, 2025
Mr. Cruz (for himself, Mr. Moran, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Budd, Mrs.
Capito, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Schmitt, Mr. Sheehy, Mr. Young, Ms. Cantwell,
Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Markey) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
November 18, 2025
Reported by Mr. Cruz, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require all aircraft to be equipped with Automatic Dependent
Surveillance-Broadcast In, to improve aviation safety, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Rotorcraft Operations
Transparency and Oversight Reform Act'' or the ``ROTOR Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. REVISION TO EXCEPTION FOR ADS-B OUT
TRANSMISSION.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Rulemaking.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this section, the Administrator of the
Federal Aviation Administration (in this Act referred to as the
``Administrator'') shall issue or revise regulations to clarify
that, with respect to the exception described in section
91.225(f)(1) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, the term
``sensitive government mission'' shall not include any
proficiency evaluation or training mission operated within the
lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class B or Class C
airspace, unless such operation is for a national security
event.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Report.--If the Administrator fails to issue
or revise regulations pursuant to paragraph (1), the
Administrator shall, within 30 days, submit to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a report on the status of such regulations,
including the reasons that the Administrator has failed to
issue or revise such regulations.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Guidance on Use of Technology Other Than ADS-B.--Not
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the
Administrator shall issue guidance to clarify that, to the extent
practicable, all aircraft operating for purposes of national defense,
homeland security intelligence, or law enforcement should utilize
Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (``TIS-B'') and the Traffic
Alert and Collision Avoidance System (``TCAS'').</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Reports.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) To the administrator.--Not later than 90 days
after the date of enactment of this section, each agency
required to operate Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast
Out (in this Act referred to as ``ADS-B Out'') in transmit mode
in accordance with section 91.225 of such title 14 shall submit
to the Administrator, on a quarterly basis until the date
described in paragraph (3), a report that includes--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) an attestation that such operations
are regularly transmitting ADS-B Out and are conducted
with proper consideration to aviation safety;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) a summary of operations in which the
ADS-B Out equipment is not in transmit mode, including
the date, time, duration, and mission type of such
operations.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) To congress.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of this section, and
biannually thereafter until the date described in
paragraph (3), the Administrator shall submit to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report
on the frequency and nature of the ADS-B Out exceptions
granted to Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies
under section 91.225(f)(1) of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations. Such report shall include--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) aggregated data on the
operations in which ADS-B Out equipment is not
in transmit mode by each agency described in
paragraph (1); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) a determination from the
Administrator whether such operations
jeopardize aviation safety.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Special notification.--If the
Administrator determines that an agency described in
paragraph (1) is too frequently, at the discretion of
the Administrator, using exceptions granted under
section 91.225(f)(1) of such title 14, the
Administrator shall notify the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives of such determination within
14 days of such determination.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Sunset.--The reporting requirements described
in this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 10 years
after the date of enactment of this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. ADS-B IN REQUIREMENTS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Requirement for Newly Manufactured Manned Aircraft.--
Subject to subsection (c), not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this section, the Administrator shall issue a final rule
that has an effective date which is not later than 3 years of the date
on which such final rule is issued to require that any newly
manufactured aircraft (other than an unmanned aircraft as defined in
section 44801 of title 49, United States Code) registered in the United
States shall be equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-
Broadcast In (referred to in this section as ``ADS-B In'').</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) ADS-B In Required in Designated Airspace.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Subject to subsection (c), not
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section,
the Administrator shall issue a final rule that has an
effective date which is not later than 3 years of the date on
which such final rule is issued to require that any aircraft
(other than an unmanned aircraft as defined in section 44801 of
title 49, United States Code) manufactured as of the date of
enactment of this section that is required to be equipped with
ADS-B Out when operating in an airspace described in section
91.225(d) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, shall also
be required to install and operate ADS-B In.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Considerations.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) Additional time.--In conducting the
rulemaking under paragraph (1), the Administrator may
consider whether any aircraft described in paragraph
(1) would require additional time, not to exceed an
additional 2 years after the effective date described
in paragraph (1), to implement such
requirement.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Notification to congress.--If the
Administrator determines there is a need to provide
additional time as described in subparagraph (A), the
Administrator shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) notify Congress not later than
14 days after making such determination;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) include a justification for
such determination, as well as the date on
which full compliance is expected.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Special determination.--For purposes of
meeting the requirements of paragraph (1), the Administrator
shall determine whether the use of a non-Technical Standard
Order receiver is permissible for aircraft with a maximum
certificated takeoff weight of fewer than 12,500
pounds.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Exception.--The requirements of subsections (a) and
(b) shall not apply to any aircraft described in section 91.225(e) of
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, including balloons and gliders
not certified with an electrical system.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 4. STUDY ON DYNAMIC RESTRICTED AREA.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of this section, the Administrator shall initiate a study on
the feasibility, costs, and benefits of establishing a dynamic
restricted area for rotorcraft and powered-lift (as such terms are
defined in section 1.1 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (as in
effect on the date of enactment of this section)) over the Potomac
River to the north, south, and east of DCA. Such study's final report
shall be--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) completed not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this section; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) submitted to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Considerations.--In conducting the study required
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall review, but is not
limited to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) terrestrial and aircraft-based technology or
equipment improvements required to operationalize a dynamic
restricted area inside the FRZ and in proximity to
DCA;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the training requirements to enable the use of
an automated visual warning system in a way that functions as a
traffic signal that is similar to the system deployed in the
FRZ, as of the date of enactment of this section, to warn
aircraft that they are entering a dynamic restricted airspace
that is active or inactive;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the ways in which the dynamic restricted area
can be depicted on various paper and electronic aeronautical
charts and other navigational materials;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) the feasibility of using automated audio
sounds to indicate active or inactive restricted area,
including a continuous tone being generated on a certain
aviation VHF and UHF radio communication and VOR and TACAN
frequencies that are modulated in tone frequency and tone
length (such as Instrument Landing System marker sounds) such
that they are received by existing aviation VHF or UHF radio
communications transceivers and an automated visual warning
system deployed in the FRZ;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) the potential and mitigation steps for pilot
and air traffic controller distraction;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) procedures to allow air traffic controllers to
override any automatic function of the system for manual
control;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) the creation of an indication or other signal
in the air traffic control tower at DCA and the Potomac
Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility (``TRACON'') to
communicate the status of whether the dynamic restricted area
is active or inactive;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (8) the creation of methods to anticipate fixed
wing aircraft taking off from DCA so to provide sufficient
warning to rotorcraft and powered-lift aircraft of the imminent
activation of the dynamic restricted area; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (9) any other matters determined appropriate by
the Administrator.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Briefing.--Not later than 30 days after completing the
study required by subsection (a), the Administrator shall brief the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives on the results of the study.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) DCA.--The term ``DCA'' means Ronald Reagan
Washington National Airport.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Dynamic restricted area.--The term ``dynamic
restricted area'' means an area of restriction placed on
specific areas of airspace, which is contemplated to be an area
over the Potomac River that is 4 miles north, south, and east
of DCA, to prevent the transit of rotorcraft and powered lift
aircraft that activates independently from air traffic
controller action and automatically by computer action based on
criteria that uses position, altitude, and velocity data from
fixed wing aircraft.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) FRZ.--The term ``FRZ'' means the Washington,
DC Metropolitan Area Flight Restricted Zone, as defined by
section 93.335 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (as in
effect on the date of enactment of this Act).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) TACAN.--The term ``TACAN'' means tactical air
navigation pursuant to Appendix 3 Abbreviation/Acronyms of the
Aeronautical Information Manual.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) UHF.--The term ``UHF'' means ultra high
frequency pursuant to Appendix 3 Abbreviation/Acronyms of the
Aeronautical Information Manual.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) VHF.--The term ``VHF'' means very high
frequency pursuant to Appendix 3 Abbreviation/Acronyms of the
Aeronautical Information Manual.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) VOR.--The term ``VOR'' means VHF
Omnidirectional Range pursuant to Appendix 3 Abbreviation/
Acronyms of the Aeronautical Information Manual.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 5. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE ARMY AUDIT.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this section, the Inspector General of the Army shall
initiate an audit to evaluate the Army's coordination with the Federal
Aviation Administration, pilot training, and qualification standards,
and the Army's use of ADS-B Out and whether it adheres to Army policy,
regulation, and law.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Assessment.--In conducting the audit required by
subsection (a), the Inspector General of the Army shall assess
practices and recommendations for the Army, including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) whether Army policy and United States law was
adhered to, and the Army's coordination with the Federal
Aviation Administration, during National Capitol Region (in
this subsection referred to as the ``NCR'') operations of pilot
training and qualifications standards in the NCR;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the Army's policy on ADS-B Out equipage,
usage, and activation;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) maintenance protocols for UH-60 Black Hawk
helicopters operated by the 12th Army Aviation Brigade
including, but not limited to, the calibration of any system
that transmits altitude and position information outside the
aircraft and the calibration of systems that sends altitude and
position information to the pilots inside the
aircraft;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) compliance with the September 29, 2021, Letter
of Agreement executed between the Pentagon Heliport Air Traffic
Control Tower and the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Air Traffic Control Tower regarding flight operations in the
NCR; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) the Army's review of loss of separation
incidents involving its rotorcraft in the NCR along with
possible mitigations to prevent future mishaps.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Public Disclosure.--Not later than 14 days after the
audit required by subsection (a) is concluded, the Secretary of the
Army shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) transmit a report on the results of the audit,
without redactions, to the Committee on the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on
Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Armed
Services of the House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) publicly release the report without
redactions, except to the extent required for national security
reasons.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 6. REVIEW OF ROTORCRAFT TRAFFIC SURROUNDING COMMERCIAL
SERVICE AIRPORTS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Review.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
enactment of this section, the Administrator shall initiate a review of
all currently charted helicopter routes where flight paths of fixed-
wing aircraft and rotorcraft (as defined in section 1.1 of such title
14) may not provide sufficient separation, as determined by the
Administrator.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Modification of Flight Routes.--Based on the results
of the review conducted under subsection (a), the Administrator shall
evaluate and modify flight routes, as necessary, to improve separation
between fix