Key Takeaways
• Senator Moran’s bill mandates ADS-B Out for all aircraft in Class B airspace, ending most exemptions.
• A January 2025 crash near DCA involving a military helicopter spurred the push for stricter ADS-B Out rules.
• Military, government, and private planes would need real-time tracking, with rare exceptions for national security missions only.
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, has stepped forward with a new push for safer skies in the United States 🇺🇸. The heart of Senator Moran’s effort is a new bill that would take away all exceptions for not using ADS-B Out equipment in Class B airspace. This move comes after a tragic midair crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and several near disasters that revealed major safety gaps. With support from lawmakers such as Senator Ted Cruz, this bill aims to make sure all aircraft flying in busy airspace are visible to air traffic controllers and each other.
Let’s break down what this all means, why Senator Moran thinks it’s important, what changes the new law proposes, and what it could mean for pilots, passengers, and the military.
What Does the Law Say Right Now?
Current rules from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) say that aircraft flying in most controlled airspace—including Class B airspace—have to use ADS-B Out. “ADS-B” stands for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, a technology that lets every plane show its position in real time to air traffic controllers and other aircraft. ADS-B Out broadcasts where the plane is, and ADS-B In lets the pilot see other planes nearby. Together, these two tools give pilots and air traffic controllers a clearer picture of all the traffic in the sky.
Class B airspace covers the busiest airports, stretching from ground level up to 10,000 feet around big urban areas. Because so many planes use this space, it is considered higher risk. But right now, the FAA allows some aircraft—especially military or government ones—to request an exemption, or special permission to turn off their ADS-B Out gear, if they need to.
Senator Moran’s Legislation: Removing the Exemptions
Senator Moran’s proposal is simple: he wants to stop any more exemptions from being given for planes in Class B airspace. Under his new bill:
- No aircraft—military, government, or private—could skip the use of ADS-B Out if they want to fly in Class B airspace.
- The Secretary of Transportation could also require all aircraft in Class B airspace to be fitted with both ADS-B In and ADS-B Out systems.
- These steps are designed to strengthen safety in places where lots of aircraft share the same sky.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, this bill aims to stop tragic accidents by making the rules the same for everyone in busy skies.
Why Now? The Events that Started This Push
The urgency behind Senator Moran’s bill comes from some very serious recent events. Just months ago, on January 29, 2025, a U.S. Army helicopter and a commercial passenger jet crashed near Reagan National Airport. Sixty-seven lives were lost in the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that the Army helicopter did not have its ADS-B Out system turned on, so air traffic controllers and nearby pilots didn’t know exactly where it was.
This crash followed two other near-misses at the same airport. Both times, military helicopters came close to commercial flights, raising even more alarm about “invisible” aircraft in a packed space.
After the deadly crash, the FAA moved quickly. They announced that starting March 27, 2025, all aircraft flying around DCA in its Class B airspace must turn on their ADS-B Out systems. But Senator Moran’s bill says that’s not enough—it should be the rule everywhere, not just at DCA.
The Military and ADS-B Out Exemptions
One of the most sensitive parts of this debate centers on military flights. In a congressional inquiry, it was revealed that the Army’s Air Brigade at Fort Belvoir, not far from DCA, always turns off ADS-B Out for its flights—100 percent of the time. This practice is meant to help with defense or secret missions but it is also at odds with statements that this should not happen on routine flights.
Senator Moran and Senator Ted Cruz both questioned the Army. They want answers to key questions:
- How often does the Army turn off ADS-B Out?
- What kinds of helicopter flights use DCA’s airspace?
- In what situations are crews allowed to turn ADS-B Out off in the National Capital Region?
The Army’s answers could have a big impact on both national security and air safety.
Bigger FAA Efforts: Tech, AI, and Route Changes
The FAA is not waiting for new laws to act. In March 2025, Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau stated that any plane flying in DCA’s Class B airspace will now have to keep ADS-B Out turned on, unless there is a clear need, like a mission for national security. This new rule cuts down on exceptions, but mainly for the DCA area.
The FAA is also using new tools to make flying safer:
- They are using artificial intelligence to spot hot spots where helicopters and planes come close together at 21 airports in 10 locations.
- These tools scan millions of data points quickly, helping the agency react to problems before they lead to disaster.
- The FAA has permanently closed a section of DCA’s helicopter route that crosses the landing path of commercial jets. This lowers the chance of collisions at one of the country’s busiest airports.
Senator Moran’s proposal looks to take these changes nationwide, so that all Class B airspace in the United States 🇺🇸 —not just around DCA—will have the same strict ADS-B Out rules.
What Would This Law Change?
If Senator Moran’s legislation passes, the following would happen:
- All planes in Class B airspace would have to use ADS-B Out, no matter who owns them.
- The Transportation Secretary could order all of them to add safety tools like ADS-B In, too.
- No more broad exemptions to the rule would be allowed. Very rare cases, like national security missions, might still get permission, but this would be tightly controlled.
- The level of safety would go up, because nearly every plane would be visible on screens.
Why Is ADS-B Out So Important?
Think of ADS-B Out as a safety light. With it, every aircraft is always visible—not just to people on the ground controlling traffic, but to every other pilot in the same area. In busy skies, this can make the difference between a safe trip and a terrible accident.
Plus, with both ADS-B In and ADS-B Out, pilots see other planes on a cockpit screen in real time. This helps prevent confusion and gives everyone enough time to take action if needed.
The FAA’s main goal is safety. By making sure all aircraft use ADS-B Out in crowded airspaces, the chance of “surprise” planes showing up—without warning—goes way down.
The Army’s Point of View: Security vs. Safety
Some defense leaders argue that turning off ADS-B Out is needed for certain missions. If an aircraft broadcasts its position, it might reveal military moves that should be kept secret for security reasons. But as the January 2025 crash showed, turning off this system in crowded, civilian areas can have deadly results.
Senator Moran’s bill tries to balance both needs. It says no plane should skip the rule for normal or routine flights. Only in rare, carefully checked cases—like when national security would truly be at risk—should the FAA allow an exception.
How Could This Impact Stakeholders?
Let’s look at who this change would affect, and how:
- Pilots and Private Aircraft Owners: They may need to update or change their avionics (the electronic systems in their planes) if they want to fly in Class B airspace. This could mean extra costs or adjustments to where they can fly.
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Military and Government: They would need to rethink which missions really have to avoid ADS-B Out transmissions. Training and daily flights could no longer be exempt just because they are military.
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Commercial Airlines and Passengers: The biggest benefit is to anyone flying in or out of busy airports. With every plane on the screen, safety goes up and everyone can feel more secure.
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Air Traffic Controllers: Managing the sky becomes much easier and less stressful when every aircraft sends its location. There are fewer surprises, fewer near-misses, and more chances to correct mistakes before they become disasters.
Arguments and Different Points of View
Not everyone agrees on how far this law should go. Here are some of the main views:
Supporters say:
– Safety should always come first. One fatal accident is too many.
– Busy airspace needs the clearest, most complete real-time information.
– The cost of new equipment is a small price for saving lives.
Some in the military or privacy camp argue:
– Broadcast signals might reveal sensitive movements that are key for defense.
– Exceptions should still be possible when safety is not the main concern, such as during real emergencies.
But the crash near DCA shows that exemptions, if too common, can cause more harm than good. Senator Moran’s bill tries to set a new normal: safety and transparency for everyone most of the time, but with strict rules for rare exceptions.
What Happens Next?
The FAA’s website has up-to-date details on the regulations about ADS-B Out and exemptions for different types of airspace. Anyone who needs to know exactly what gear is required can find more information in the FAA’s guide to ADS-B requirements.
Senator Moran’s bill is now in front of Congress. Lawmakers will debate its details and make decisions about which, if any, exceptions should remain. In the meantime, the FAA’s March 2025 rule around DCA is already in place, making the region’s skies a little safer.
In Summary
Senator Moran’s legislation could bring important changes to U.S. aviation safety. By requiring every aircraft in Class B airspace to use ADS-B Out, the bill seeks to make sure no planes are “invisible” in the nation’s busiest skies. This follows a deadly collision that showed what can go wrong when some flights are allowed to go “dark.”
If the law passes:
- No more broad exemptions for military or other government flights in Class B airspace.
- Every plane, regardless of who flies it, will need real-time tracking.
- The only exceptions will be rare and tightly limited, mainly for true national security missions.
The end goal—according to Senator Moran, the FAA, and aviation safety advocates—is to avoid future tragedies, reduce near misses, and give everyone flying in the United States 🇺🇸 safer, more predictable skies. For travelers, pilots, and their families, clearer rules mean one thing: peace of mind that comes from knowing every plane is seen and tracked at all times.
Learn Today
ADS-B Out → An electronic system that broadcasts an aircraft’s location in real time to controllers and other nearby planes for safety.
Class B Airspace → Airspace around the busiest airports, stretching from the ground up to 10,000 feet over major urban areas.
Exemption → Special FAA permission allowing certain aircraft to operate without meeting usual equipment or safety requirements.
National Security Mission → A sensitive military or government operation where secrecy is required, sometimes justifying reduced public visibility.
FAA → The Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. agency responsible for regulating and overseeing all aspects of civil aviation.
This Article in a Nutshell
After a deadly 2025 midair crash near DCA involving a military helicopter, Senator Moran’s bill seeks nationwide ADS-B Out mandates for all aircraft in Class B airspace. If passed, this law will enhance aviation safety, require real-time tracking, and limit exemptions—balancing transparency with rare national security needs for safer skies.
— By VisaVerge.com
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• EASA launches initiatives to boost safety in general aviation
• FAA Now Lets Some Aircraft Owners Keep Registration Details Private
• Delta Flight and Air Force Jet Avoid Near Collision Over Reagan National
• FAA Acts Quickly on Safety After Call to Action in Aviation
