[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2503 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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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, and Mr. Young)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
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,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Rotorcraft Operations Transparency
and Oversight Reform Act'' or the ``ROTOR Act''.
SEC. 2. REVISION TO EXCEPTION FOR ADS-B OUT TRANSMISSION.
(a) Rulemaking.--
(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.
(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.
(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'').
(c) Reports.--
(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--
(A) an attestation that such operations are
regularly transmitting ADS-B Out and are conducted with
proper consideration to aviation safety; and
(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.
(2) To congress.--
(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--
(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
(ii) a determination from the Administrator
whether such operations jeopardize aviation
safety.
(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.
(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.
SEC. 3. ADS-B IN REQUIREMENTS.
(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'').
(b) ADS-B In Required in Designated Airspace.--
(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.
(2) Considerations.--
(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.
(B) Notification to congress.--If the Administrator
determines there is a need to provide additional time
as described in subparagraph (A), the Administrator
shall--
(i) notify Congress not later than 14 days
after making such determination; and
(ii) include a justification for such
determination, as well as the date on which
full compliance is expected.
(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.
(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.
SEC. 4. STUDY ON DYNAMIC RESTRICTED AREA.
(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--
(1) completed not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this section; and
(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.
(b) Considerations.--In conducting the study required under
subsection (a), the Administrator shall review, but is not limited to--
(1) terrestrial and aircraft-based technology or equipment
improvements required to operationalize a dynamic restricted
area inside the FRZ and in proximity to DCA;
(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;
(3) the ways in which the dynamic restricted area can be
depicted on various paper and electronic aeronautical charts
and other navigational materials;
(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;
(5) the potential and mitigation steps for pilot and air
traffic controller distraction;
(6) procedures to allow air traffic controllers to override
any automatic function of the system for manual control;
(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;
(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
(9) any other matters determined appropriate by the
Administrator.
(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.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) DCA.--The term ``DCA'' means Ronald Reagan Washington
National Airport.
(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.
(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).
(4) TACAN.--The term ``TACAN'' means tactical air
navigation pursuant to Appendix 3 Abbreviation/Acronyms of the
Aeronautical Information Manual.
(5) UHF.--The term ``UHF'' means ultra high frequency
pursuant to Appendix 3 Abbreviation/Acronyms of the
Aeronautical Information Manual.
(6) VHF.--The term ``VHF'' means very high frequency
pursuant to Appendix 3 Abbreviation/Acronyms of the
Aeronautical Information Manual.
(7) VOR.--The term ``VOR'' means VHF Omnidirectional Range
pursuant to Appendix 3 Abbreviation/Acronyms of the
Aeronautical Information Manual.
SEC. 5. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE ARMY AUDIT.
(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.
(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--
(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;
(2) the Army's policy on ADS-B Out equipage, usage, and
activation;
(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;
(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
(5) the Army's review of loss of separation incidents
involving its rotorcraft in the NCR along with possible
mitigations to prevent future mishaps.
(c) Public Disclosure.--Not later than 14 days after the audit
required by subsection (a) is concluded, the Secretary of the Army
shall--
(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
(2) publicly release the report without redactions, except
to the extent required for national security reasons.
SEC. 6. REVIEW OF ROTORCRAFT TRAFFIC SURROUNDING COMMERCIAL SERVICE
AIRPORTS.
(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.
(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
fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft (as so defined).
(c) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of this section, 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 review conducted under subsection (a) and any
modifications to flight routes made under subsection (b).
SEC. 7. REPEAL OF PROVISION REGARDING ADS-B EQUIPMENT ON CERTAIN
AIRCRAFT OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
Section 1046 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is repealed.
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