Story perspectives

Senate Passes Helicopter Safety Bill After Deadly Collision

12/18/2025

Summary

Story summary

The Senate on December 17, 2025 passed the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act to require military helicopters near Reagan Washington National Airport to signal their location to air traffic controllers.
The legislation addresses safety concerns after a January collision that killed 67 people.
The act would require compliance with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) by 2031, narrowing exceptions for military flights.

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Story summary

The Senate on December 17, 2025 passed the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act to require military helicopters near Reagan Washington National Airport to signal their location to air traffic controllers.
The legislation addresses safety concerns after a January collision that killed 67 people.
The act would require compliance with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) by 2031, narrowing exceptions for military flights.