Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025

Bill Number

S. 1985

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-06-05: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Last Updated

2026-03-26T18:29:31Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 aims to enhance aviation safety by strengthening the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) safety management practices, improving technology requirements for aircraft tracking, reviewing airspace risks especially involving military and other non-commercial flights, protecting the FAA workforce, and expanding training for air traffic controllers. It focuses on integrating safety systems across FAA operations and coordinating with the Department of Defense (DOD) to reduce risks in shared airspace.

Key Provisions

• Expert Review of FAA Safety Management System (SMS): Establishes an independent expert panel within 60 days of enactment to evaluate the FAA's SMS compliance, effectiveness, and integration across its operations. The panel includes representatives from NASA, labor organizations (e.g., pilots and air traffic controllers), independent experts, industry, and FAA advisors. It must issue recommendations within 180 days, which the FAA must address or explain non-concurrence within specified timelines. The panel has access to FAA records (with protections for confidential data) and is exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

• ADS-B Out Reforms: Tightens exceptions to Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out (ADS-B Out) requirements—a technology that broadcasts an aircraft's position and velocity for better tracking. Exceptions for "sensitive government missions" are limited to true high-risk cases (e.g., excluding routine flights or training). Amends prior law to redefine "special mission aircraft." Requires FAA administrative updates, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of exception usage within one year, FAA determinations on compliance, and a joint FAA-DOD council for ongoing oversight with annual congressional briefings.

• ADS-B In Requirement: Mandates ADS-B In equipment—a system that receives ADS-B broadcasts to improve pilots' awareness and collision avoidance—on aircraft operated by certain air carriers (under FAA parts 121 or 135) within four years of enactment, even without new regulations. The FAA must set performance standards and issue guidance on compliant equipment.

• Safety Reviews of Airspace: Creates an FAA Office of FAA-DOD Coordination within 30 days to manage military airspace use and conduct safety reviews. Prioritizes a review of operations (e.g., helicopters, drones, powered-lift aircraft) near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport within 120 days, followed by reviews at other busy Class B airports (high-traffic first) over two years. Reviews assess risks to commercial flights, coordination with DOD and others, incident trends, and include labor input. Results and recommendations go to Congress within 60 days of completion.

• FAA-DOD Safety Information Sharing: Requires memoranda of understanding (MOUs) within 60-90 days for sharing safety data from military systems (e.g., Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard) with the FAA to analyze impacts on civil aviation and reduce risks.

• Protections for FAA Workforce: Prohibits hiring freezes, deferred resignations, voluntary furloughs, reductions in force, or cuts to full-time positions affecting FAA staff (retroactive from January 20, 2025). Excludes FAA from broader federal actions. Mandates a GAO review within 30 days of any probationary employee terminations since February 14, 2025, evaluating safety risks and congressional notifications, with a report to Congress within about seven months.

• Extension of Air Traffic Controller Hiring: Extends the FAA's maximum hiring requirement for air traffic controllers from 2028 to 2033.

• Air Traffic Controller Training Improvements:
• Expands the Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative to certify at least 15 higher education institutions for air traffic curricula equivalent to FAA Academy training, enabling non-competitive hiring of qualified graduates.
• Funds hiring of specialized medical examiners for pilot certifications and air traffic instructors, targeting retirees and addressing shortages.
• Requires a GAO study within five years on program effectiveness, with a report to Congress.
• Launches an outreach program for instructor recruitment, including public job postings.

• Transport Airplane Risk Assessment Methodology (TARAM) Analyses: Requires TARAM—a risk evaluation tool for airplane designs and manufacturing—after any fatal U.S. transport airplane accident, with a report to Congress within 30 days. Designates FAA TARAM experts and updates related policy within 60 days. Amends prior law to mandate congressional notice of TARAM findings.

• Employee Reporting: Directs the Department of Transportation Inspector General to audit the FAA's whistleblower program and hotline processing within 60 days, ensuring anonymity, and report findings and recommendations to Congress.

• Conflicts of Interest: Requires an interim final rule within 60 days enforcing federal conflict-of-interest laws (18 U.S.C. § 208). The Inspector General must review compliance and waivers within one year, briefing Congress.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends ADS-B regulations (14 C.F.R. § 91.225) and the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act to narrow exceptions and redefine terms like "special mission aircraft."
• Updates TARAM policy (FAA PS-ANM-25-05) and amends the 2020 Aircraft Certification Act for mandatory post-accident analyses and notifications.
• Extends air traffic controller hiring mandate from the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act to 2033.
• Introduces new mandates like ADS-B In equipage without awaiting rulemaking, workforce protections retroactive to early 2025, and MOUs for DOD data sharing, which were not previously required.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases FAA workload for reviews, panels, and training expansions; mandates coordination and data sharing with DOD and other departments, potentially improving efficiency but requiring resources. Protects FAA staffing to maintain operations, avoiding disruptions to air traffic control.
• Citizens: Enhances overall aviation safety through better tracking, risk assessments, and airspace management, potentially reducing accident risks for passengers on commercial flights. May indirectly raise air carrier costs for equipment upgrades, possibly affecting ticket prices.
• International Relations: Recommends U.S. advocacy for updates to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards on safety management, which could influence global aviation norms without direct impacts.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• FAA and DOT: Primary implementers, facing new oversight, hiring mandates, and protections.
• DOD and Military Departments: Required for coordination, data sharing, and airspace reviews.
• Aviation Labor Organizations: Pilots, air traffic controllers involved in panels, reviews, and training.
• Air Carriers and Industry: Must comply with ADS-B In requirements and participate in safety initiatives; benefits from improved safety.
• Congress: Receives multiple reports, briefings, and recommendations for ongoing oversight.
• Higher Education Institutions: Eligible for partnerships and funding in controller training programs.
• General Public and Passengers: Indirect beneficiaries of safer airspace.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens whistleblower protections and conflict-of-interest enforcement, potentially reducing liability in safety incidents. Exempts the expert panel from advisory committee rules, streamlining reviews but limiting public input. Mandates like ADS-B In bypass traditional rulemaking, accelerating implementation under FAA authority (49 U.S.C. § 44701).
• Constitutional: Workforce protections (e.g., prohibiting reductions in force) could raise separation-of-powers questions by limiting executive hiring/firing discretion, though framed as safety-specific and retroactive only for FAA.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship emphasizes safety amid recent concerns (e.g., near-misses); protects against potential federal workforce cuts, signaling priority on aviation infrastructure. GAO and Inspector General audits promote accountability without partisan bias.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]

Cosponsors (13)

Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA], Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]

Recent Actions

• 2025-06-05: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
• 2025-06-05: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-05 — PDF (38 pages)