Washington, DC

NBAA welcomes House approval of ALERT Act

The National Business Aviation Association has welcomed approval by the House of Representatives of the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act, H.R.7613.

The wide-ranging, bipartisan safety measure, which is supported by NBAA and a host of other industry stakeholders, requires all civil fixed-wing and rotorcraft to improve situational awareness by equipping them with collision mitigation, avoidance and alerting systems while recognizing the diverse composition of the business aviation fleet.

The legislation addresses recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) following its investigation into the January 2025 midair collision of a US Army helicopter and regional passenger airliner near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

The ALERT Act would strengthen air traffic control (ATC) training, improve Federal Aviation Administration safety culture, reduce risk in mixed-use environments and implement targeted safety procedures. While centered on DCA airspace, its benefits extend throughout the National Airspace System (NAS).

“This legislation directly addresses safety gaps identified by the NTSB, while supporting the development of next-generation technology,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “It also would bring together industry experts to develop solutions that meet the highest safety standards.”

The bill was introduced in February by House T&I Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-6-MO) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-2-WA), along with Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers (R-3-AL) and ranking member Adam Smith (D-9-WA).