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(Bloomberg) — Top lawmakers on the Senate Commerce Committee released a bipartisan bill Thursday aimed at boosting aviation safety after a deadly mid-air collision near Washington earlier this year.
Republicans and Democrats earlier unveiled their own versions of the legislation to address issues that emerged after the January collision between a U.S. military helicopter and an American Airlines Group Inc. regional jet that killed 67 people. But the bipartisan agreement — announced by Speaker Ted Cruz and the panel’s top Democrat, Maria Cantwell — increases the likelihood that the changes will ultimately be implemented.
The Senate Commerce Committee plans to vote on the bill next week. The legislation will include new requirements for aircraft to be equipped with and using a technology known as ADS-B, which provides real-time data on the position of an aircraft or helicopter. It would also tighten rules that allow certain aircraft, such as those used by the military, to fly without broadcasting their location, limiting the scope of a sensitive government mission.
The army helicopter involved in the accident had ADS-B technology but it was not transmitting data.
An Army official said during a National Transportation Safety Board hearing over the summer that there was a technical problem that was preventing the Black Hawk’s system from functioning properly, but that its pilots were not required to turn it on under policies at the time. The US Federal Aviation Administration has since cut exemptions for military and other government aircraft.
The January mid-air crash, which occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, prompted calls for stricter safety protocols, especially in highly congested areas where planes share airspace with helicopters. It also brought new awareness to some of the challenges facing air traffic controllers, including understaffing and outdated equipment.
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