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ROTOR Act

Official title: A bill to require all aircraft to be equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast In, to improve aviation safety, and for other purposes.

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Where the Bill Stands

  1. Introduced, done
  2. Committee, done
  3. Floor Vote, done
  4. Outcome, shown after you vote

How Congress Voted

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What This Bill Does

This bill addresses aviation safety by increasing requirements for aircraft tracking and communication using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology and expanding oversight.

As background, ADS-B for broadcasting (Out) and receiving (In) transmits information (e.g., location and weather information) between aircraft and air traffic control.

Under the bill, aircraft must generally operate with ADS-B In equipment to provide the aircraft with location information of other aircraft and traffic advisories. Current law does not require this equipment.

Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations allow aircraft performing a sensitive government mission to be excepted from requirements for using ADS-B Out equipment. This bill limits which flights may be considered sensitive government missions (e.g., not training flights) and requires additional reporting and notifications for the exception.

The Government Accountability Office must review the use of the ADS-B Out exception and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Transportation must annually audit FAA oversight of operations that use the exception.

Further, the bill repeals a 2025 law that exempts certain military helicopters from the ADS-B Out requirements for the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.

The bill also requires

  • the OIG of the Army to audit the Army’s coordination with the FAA,
  • the FAA to establish an office to coordinate airspace usage of military aircraft and review the safety of flight operations and routes around airports, and
  • the FAA to enter into memoranda of understanding with military agencies for safety information sharing.

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Related Documents

Bill on Congress.govWeb Page ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Timeline

  1. House floor actionsConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2277)
  2. Library of CongressFailed of passage/not agreed to in House On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 264 - 133 (Roll no. 72).
  3. Floor Vote
  4. Failed in the House
  5. House floor actionsMr. Graves moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  6. SenateMessage on Senate action sent to the House.
  7. House floor actionsReceived in the House.
  8. SenateMeasure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8811-8817)
  9. Library of CongressPassed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  10. SenateCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
  11. SenateCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
  12. Library of CongressIntroduced in Senate
  13. SenateRead twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  14. Introduced
  15. Committee

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