In response to the devastating collision between a regional aircraft and a military helicopter in January 2025, the US House of Representatives has introduced a comprehensive legislative package to increase airspace safety.
The so-called ALERT Act (Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency Act) aims to enshrine all safety recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in law. The crash near Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA), involving an American Airlines CRJ700 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, claimed the lives of 67 people. The NTSB's year-long investigation revealed significant deficiencies in the monitoring of dense airspace as well as technological shortcomings in collision warning systems.
The proposed legislation envisions far-reaching technological upgrades that go well beyond current standards. Under the ALERT Act, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would be required to mandate the implementation of ACAS-Xa for certain turboprop aircraft and develop new standards for ACAS-Xr specifically tailored for rotary-wing aircraft operating in high-traffic Class B airspace. A key element is the integration of ADS-B data into collision avoidance systems to provide pilots with more precise audible and directional warnings. This goes significantly beyond the ROTOR Act, already passed by the Senate, which primarily focused on expanding ADS-B usage.
In addition to technical upgrades, the legislation addresses operational procedures of air traffic control and FAA oversight. The law directs the agency to fundamentally revise air traffic controller training in error management and visual separation. Furthermore, helicopter routes and vertical separation standards around Washington Reagan International Airport are to be reassessed. A critical aspect of the NTSB investigation was the lack of coordination between civilian and military actors in the approach sector, which is why the ALERT Act calls for a more rigorous evaluation of the agency's safety culture and the management of high-density airspace.
Industry associations such as the National Business Aviation Association and Vertical Aviation International have already signaled their support for the comprehensive measures. Members of the House of Representatives must now decide whether to pass the ALERT Act as a standalone package or combine elements of it with the Senate's ROTOR Act. Experts view the initiative as a clear signal to the FAA to implement the accident investigators' recommendations without further delay. For aircraft operators in the US, this will foreseeably mean new requirements for onboard equipment and altered flight procedures in metropolitan areas.