ALERT clears House with PAPA on board

The Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act was drafted in response to the January 2025 midair in Washington, D.C., between an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army UH–60 Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people. The NTSB determined that the helicopter was not broadcasting ADS-B in the busy airspace around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and recommended that all aircraft be equipped to utilize both ADS-B Out, required in certain controlled airspace since 2020, and ADS-B In, which creates situational awareness of nearby aircraft independent of air traffic control advisories.

The ALERT legislation, unlike the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act that passed the Senate in 2025 but failed in a February House vote, contains provisions originally proposed in the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act, which AOPA strongly supports, that would prevent the use of ADS-B for purposes other than airspace safety.

“We appreciate the bipartisan support for the ALERT Act, and all members involved in putting together this comprehensive bill—especially House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen,” said AOPA Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy Jim Coon. “By including PAPA, this bill is positioned to dramatically enhance aviation safety—as it ensures there is no disincentive for pilots to … use this important technology.”

Coon noted that arguments raised by airports seeking to continue collecting fees based on ADS-B data falsely claim that the legislation would prevent the collection of fees. "Folks need to read the bill's language—there is nothing that prevents anyone from imposing or collecting fees, they just need to use other technologies." NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy made the same safety case for PAPA in her February testimony before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee: "ADS-B is a safety tool and it should be used for safety, not as a revenue generator to charge … general aviation pilots and others ramp fees or landing fees," Homendy said.

The ALERT Act now moves to the Senate, where it is expected discussions will occur to resolve issues with the Senate-passed ROTOR Act. AOPA continues to urge its members to reach out to senators requesting their support to ensure ADS-B is used for its intended safety purpose and not as a fee collection tool. "A pilot’s right to privacy and safety concerns far outweigh the use of safety technology for economic gain, especially with equipment that pilots were mandated to purchase and install solely for safety reasons,” Coon said.

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