Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025

This bill aims to make flying safer by tightening technology rules, improving how the FAA shares airspace with the military, and keeping air traffic control fully staffed. It would require most scheduled passenger and commuter airlines to add “ADS‑B In” equipment within four years so pilots can see more traffic information in the cockpit and get alerts that help avoid collisions, with the FAA setting performance standards for the gear . It narrows government exceptions to the “ADS‑B Out” tracking rule, so fewer flights can turn off their location broadcasts, and orders reviews to ensure any remaining exceptions are used properly . The FAA must also set up an office to coordinate with the Department of Defense, study helicopter, powered‑lift, drone, and military flight routes near big airports like Washington Reagan National, and recommend changes to reduce risks to airline flights . To improve safety culture, an independent expert panel would review the FAA’s safety program, and the DOT Inspector General would audit how whistleblower complaints are handled .

To prevent delays and shortages, the FAA workforce is shielded from hiring freezes and staff cuts, with past freezes reversed, and GAO reviewing any recent probationary firings . The bill expands air traffic controller training through more accredited colleges (at least 15), faster hiring of qualified graduates, more instructors, and more FAA medical examiners to speed pilot medical reviews . After any fatal airline accident, the FAA must run a formal risk analysis and report results to Congress, with updated guidance and named experts to keep the process current . It also orders stronger conflict‑of‑interest rules at the Department of Transportation, with follow‑up oversight by the Inspector General .

Key points

• Who is affected: Airline passengers and crews; air traffic controllers and instructors; FAA workforce; pilots needing medical exams; military and law‑enforcement operators in shared airspace .
• What changes: Airlines add ADS‑B In; tighter limits on flights that can disable tracking; new FAA‑DoD coordination and airport safety reviews; stronger whistleblower handling and conflict‑of‑interest rules; protected FAA hiring; expanded controller training and medical examiner staffing .
• When: ADS‑B In required within 4 years; multiple FAA and DoD agreements and reviews begin within 30–90 days; whistleblower audit report due within 60 days; several staffing and training steps roll out over the next 1–5 years .