Sponsors (33)
Official title: To require all aircraft to be equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast In, to improve aviation safety, and for other purposes.
Introduced November 20, 2025 by Robert F. Onder · Last progress November 20, 2025
The bill strengthens aviation safety and oversight by tightening ADS‑B exceptions, boosting audits, expanding data sharing, and improving civil–military coordination—at the expense of added costs and administrative burdens, potential constraints on military operations, and increased risks around handling sensitive information.
Passengers, pilots, and emergency responders will see improved flight safety and reduced midair/conflict risk because the bill tightens ADS‑B exception use, requires audits and reviews, expands ADS‑B In traffic alerts, and gives FAA access to military safety data to identify and mitigate risks.
Taxpayers and citizens gain greater transparency and congressional oversight through required unredacted reports, GAO/DOT‑IG reviews, periodic briefings, and mandated notifications around MOUs and rule implementation.
Military and civilian aviation operations will benefit from better civil–military coordination and infrastructure (an FAA‑DOD coordination office, MOUs, consolidated incident reporting) that should reduce uncoordinated flights and improve planning for busy airspace.
Taxpayers, federal agencies, and service budgets will face substantial new costs because of expanded reporting, GAO/DOT‑IG audits, Army safety follow‑ups, creation/staffing of a FAA‑DOD coordination office, and other administrative requirements.
Military and law‑enforcement operations could be constrained—shorter exception windows, low notification thresholds, tighter coordination, and possible route/airspace limits may disrupt training, readiness, and operational flexibility.
Requiring public release and wider data sharing creates risks that sensitive operational details or privacy‑related information could be exposed unless redaction and protections are robust, raising national‑security and whistleblower/privacy concerns.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Mandates ADS‑B In for aircraft already required to have ADS‑B Out, narrows government flight exceptions, creates FAA–DOD coordination and audits, and requires MOUs and reporting.
Requires operators of aircraft already subject to ADS‑B Out rules to equip and operate ADS‑B In systems (with certain small-aircraft alternatives) by December 31, 2031, tightens the exception that lets some government flights suppress ADS‑B Out broadcasts, and orders new FAA audits, military audits, and interagency data‑sharing agreements to improve oversight of rotorcraft and other aircraft operations in the National Capital Region and other busy Class B/C airspace. It also creates an FAA–DOD coordination office, mandates safety reviews of military, law‑enforcement, and civilian rotary‑wing/powered‑lift operations near major airports, and repeals a prior statutory ADS‑B exception for some DoD aircraft. The Act sets timelines for FAA rulemaking and reporting, requires Army and DOT inspectors‑general audits, compels quarterly and special incident reporting by agencies that conduct “sensitive missions,” and directs MOUs to share military safety data with the FAA to assess and mitigate risks to civil aviation safety and efficiency.