S. 1985 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jun 5, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryStrengthens aircraft tracking and FAA workforce
This bill aims to make shared airspace safer by requiring more aircraft to have tracking equipment that sends information to air traffic control and other planes. It limits which military flights can skip this requirement and requires the FAA to coordinate better with the military on airspace usage. The bill also protects FAA employees from hiring freezes and furloughs while supporting the recruitment and training of air traffic controllers.
How it affects you
Pilots and airline operators will need to ensure their aircraft have the required tracking equipment and capabilities. Air traffic controllers and FAA employees should see more stable employment protections and training support. The changes are mainly aimed at people working in aviation, though everyone who flies benefits from the safety improvements that better tracking and military coordination can provide.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jun 5, 2025)
Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025
This bill addresses aviation safety, such as through increasing requirements for aircraft tracking, communication, and coordination with the military. The bill also addresses Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) workforce issues.
For example, the bill revises and increases requirements for using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipment, which transmits information (e.g., location and weather information) between aircraft and air traffic control.
Under the bill, aircraft must generally operate with ADS-B In (receiving) equipment. The FAA must issue performance requirements for the equipment to provide safety-enhancing capabilities (e.g., facilitating aircraft collision avoidance) for flight crews.
Further, current FAA regulations allow aircraft performing a sensitive government mission to be excepted from requirements for using ADS-B Out (broadcasting) equipment. This bill limits which flights may be considered sensitive government missions (e.g., not training flights).
The FAA must also (1) establish an office to coordinate airspace usage of military aircraft, (2) review the safety of certain flight operations and routes around airports, and (3) enter into memoranda of understanding with military agencies for safety information sharing.
The FAA must conduct a Transport Airplane Risk Assessment Methodology analysis for any transport airplane accidents in the United States that result in a fatality.
The bill also addresses FAA workforce issues, such as by
• excluding the FAA workforce from a federal hiring freeze, deferred resignation program, voluntary furlough, or reduction in force;
• supporting the recruitment and training of air traffic controllers; and
• requiring strict adherence to federal conflict of interest requirements.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 1985
A BILL
Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) · Introduced Jun 5, 2025 · Transportation and Public Works · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jun 5, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.”
Sections
Sections · 13
- Sec. 1Short title; table of contentsNo change
- Sec. 2DefinitionsNo change
- Sec. 3Expert compliance review of FAA Safety Management SystemNo change
- Sec. 4ADS–B Out ReformsNo change
- Sec. 5ADS–B In requirement to enhance safetyNo change
- Sec. 6Safety reviews of airspaceNo change
- Sec. 7FAA-Department of Defense Safety Information SharingNo change
- Sec. 8No disruptions to FAA workforceNo change
- Sec. 9Extension of FAA air traffic controller max hiring requirementNo change
- Sec. 10Air traffic controller training improvementsNo change
- Sec. 11TARAM analysesNo change
- Sec. 12Employee reportingNo change
- Sec. 13Conflicts of interestNo change