Two US House committees will debate major aviation safety reforms on Thursday, prompted by a fatal 2025 collision that killed 67 people.
WASHINGTON: Two US House committees are set to consider sweeping aviation safety reform legislation on Thursday. The bill addresses 50 recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) following a fatal January 2025 collision.
The crash involved an American Airlines regional jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, killing all 67 people on board. It was the worst US aviation disaster since 2001.
The revised ALERT Act will be considered by the House Armed Services and Transportation and Infrastructure committees. It establishes requirements for equipping aircraft with collision mitigation technologies.
The legislation also aims to address deficiencies in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) safety culture. It enhances air traffic control training and procedures while strengthening safety of airspace around Reagan Washington National Airport.
The fatal collision occurred in the airspace near that airport last year. The NTSB said its analysis shows the revised bill largely requires implementation of its year-long investigation’s recommendations.
The US House failed to pass a separate aviation bill last month. The Pentagon withdrew its support for the ROTOR Act despite pleas from lawmakers and victims’ relatives.
The Senate had passed the ROTOR Act unanimously in December. It would have required aircraft to be equipped with the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system by the end of 2031.
Under fast-track rules, the bill needed a two-thirds House majority but fell one vote short. The NTSB said last month an earlier version of the ALERT Act did not meet its recommendations.
The current bill would require airborne collision avoidance systems on airplanes by the end of 2031. It also mandates the use of ADS-B technology.
The legislation requires a review of flight frequency at Reagan National Airport, which has the nation’s busiest single runway. The review will determine if it can handle current traffic levels.
The Senate’s ROTOR Act would also boost oversight of commercial jet and helicopter traffic near airports. If the House passes the ALERT Act, both chambers would need to reconcile differences between the two bills.
Last week, the FAA tightened helicopter safety rules near major airports. It suspended the use of sight primarily to maintain safe separation distances between airplanes and helicopters.
 The Sun Malaysia
