ALERT Act Passed by House to Boost Aviation Safety with ADS-B Tech
The U.S. House of Representatives has resoundingly passed the ALERT Act (Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency Act of 2026) on April 15, 2026, with a decisive 396-10 vote. This legislation is a direct response to the tragic midair collision in January 2025 between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which resulted in 67 fatalities.
The bill mandates that all aircraft operating near busy airports—including military helicopters—install ADS-B In technology to receive collision-avoidance data about nearby aircraft locations. While most aircraft already broadcast their positions using ADS-B Out, the new requirement for receiving capabilities aims to provide pilots with critical real-time awareness of surrounding traffic.
“We worked closely with the NTSB, with stakeholders, with victims’ families to make sure we got this right,” said Rep. Sam Graves, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
The National Transportation Safety Board recently confirmed that the amended legislation addresses its recommendations for enhanced locator systems around busy airports—a technology the NTSB has advocated for since 2008.
The bill also addresses several other key safety issues:
- Helicopter route safety
- Air traffic controller training improvements
- Better coordination between the FAA and Department of Defense for civilian and military flight operations
The ALERT Act now moves to the Senate for consideration, where it will need to be reconciled with the previously passed ROTOR Act.