NTSB: ALERT Act Falls Short Of Safety Recommendations

Why It Matters

The omission leaves U.S. airspace vulnerable to preventable collisions, delaying a proven safety technology that could save lives. Congressional inaction risks further fatalities and undermines the NTSB’s evidence‑based recommendations.

Key Takeaways

• ALERT Act omits mandatory ADS‑B In in required airspace.
• NTSB says ADS‑B In could have given 59‑second alerts.
• ROTOR Act failed to pass, citing cost and technology concerns.
• FAA’s 2020 rule only mandates ADS‑B Out, not In.
• 67 fatalities underscore need for comprehensive surveillance mandates.

Pulse Analysis

The United States has spent decades building the ADS‑B infrastructure that underpins modern air traffic management. Since the early Safe Flight 21 initiatives and the Capstone Program in Alaska, the FAA’s 2010 final rule mandated ADS‑B Out in select controlled airspaces, a requirement that took full effect in 2020. However, the complementary ADS‑B In capability—providing pilots with real‑time traffic alerts—remains optional, creating a blind spot that the NTSB now highlights as a critical safety gap.

In its year‑long investigation of the Jan. 29, 2025 collision that claimed 67 lives, the NTSB produced more than 19,000 pages of findings and concluded that ADS‑B In with audible alerts could have warned crews up to 59 seconds before impact. Despite these data‑driven recommendations, the ALERT Act as drafted would only partially adopt the board’s advice, and the separate ROTOR Act, which aimed to enforce inbound ADS‑B, stalled in the House over cost and the notion that the technology is still emerging. Lawmakers like Rep. Sam Graves argue for a scalable, future‑proof approach, but the debate underscores a tension between fiscal concerns and proven safety benefits.

The stakes extend beyond a single tragedy. Without mandatory ADS‑B In, commercial operators and the military continue to rely on less precise situational awareness tools, increasing the risk of midair incidents. Industry stakeholders are watching closely as Congress weighs the next steps; a robust mandate could accelerate equipment upgrades, standardize cockpit displays, and ultimately reduce accident rates. Conversely, continued delays may erode public confidence in the nation’s aviation safety regime, prompting airlines and manufacturers to push for voluntary adoption to stay ahead of regulatory expectations.