Safety in Shared Skies Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8072
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-21T08:05:41Z
AI-Generated Summary
Safety in Shared Skies Act of 2026 (H.R. 8072)
Purpose
To improve aviation safety by requiring regular testing and certification of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast out (ADS-B Out) transponder systems—devices that use GPS to broadcast an aircraft's position to air traffic control—on Department of Defense (DoD) aircraft operating in U.S. airspace.
Key Provisions
- Uniform Standards and Testing: The Secretary of Defense must create consistent standards to test and certify every ADS-B Out system on DoD aircraft in U.S. airspace at least every 90 days.
- Reporting to Congress: Starting 180 days after enactment, and every 180 days for two years, the Secretary must submit reports detailing tests, certifications, and any system failures.
- Inspector General Audits: The DoD Inspector General must audit compliance at one year and two years after enactment, then report results to Congress with a recommendation on extending the reporting and audit requirements.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces mandatory, recurring testing (every 90 days) and certification for ADS-B Out systems on DoD aircraft, which was not previously required by federal law.
- Adds biannual congressional reporting and independent audits by the DoD Inspector General for the first two years, establishing new oversight mechanisms.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload and costs for DoD (testing, reporting) and Inspector General (audits); promotes accountability and compliance.
- Citizens: Enhances shared airspace safety by ensuring military aircraft transponders function reliably alongside civilian flights, potentially reducing collision risks.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though reliable ADS-B could support smoother U.S. airspace operations for foreign aircraft.
Main Stakeholders
- Department of Defense (Secretary and aircraft operators): Responsible for implementation.
- Congress: Receives reports and audit findings for oversight.
- DoD Inspector General: Conducts compliance audits.
- Aviation Community (civilian pilots, air traffic controllers): Benefits from safer integration of military aircraft.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Mandates executive branch action with built-in congressional oversight and independent audits, reinforcing checks and balances without altering constitutional authority over military operations.
- Political: Signals bipartisan interest in aviation safety; two-year sunset on reporting/audits allows evaluation before permanence, potentially leading to extensions based on Inspector General recommendations.
- No major constitutional challenges anticipated, as it directs DoD operations within existing statutory frameworks.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2026-03-25: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Safety in Shared Skies Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-25 — PDF (3 pages)