Cruz Presses NTSB on Preventable Crash and ADS-B Mandate

Preventable Accidents & ADS-B Technology

• 💡 The NTSB confirmed a deadly crash would not have occurred if both aircraft had been equipped with ADS-B In technology.
• ⏰ ADS-B In provides crucial warning times, specifically 48 seconds for a helicopter crew and 59 seconds for another flight, allowing for evasive action.
• 🔍 The FAA currently only requires ADS-B Out, which sends signals to air traffic control, but chose not to mandate ADS-B In in 2010, despite its ability to give pilots direct signals.

Congressional Action: The Rotor Act

• 🚀 Congress is advancing the bipartisan Rotor Act to mandate ADS-B In and Out for aircraft operating in congested airspace.
• ✅ The Rotor Act has already passed the Senate unanimously, with support from both Republicans and Democrats.
• 📜 This mandate follows 16 previous NTSB recommendations for ADS-B In, highlighting a long-standing safety concern.

Debunking Objections to Mandates

• ⚠️ Senator Cruz and the NTSB reject calls for special interest carveouts and exemptions for private jets, charter flights, general aviation, and military aircraft in congested airspace.
• 💰 The argument that ADS-B In is too costly is refuted, with equipment available for private pilots for $400 and airline retrofits costing under $50,000 per plane, taking only 1-2 days.
• ✈️ The Rotor Act is designed to be practical, only requiring ADS-B In for planes flying into busy airspace, not for aircraft like crop dusters in rural areas unless they enter congested zones.

Towards Uniform Airspace Safety

• 🤝 The NTSB emphasizes that all aircraft operating in shared airspace, regardless of type (commercial, private, military), should adhere to the same ADS-B safety rules.
• 🎯 The ultimate goal is to establish one uniform safety standard across U.S. airspace, preventing future tragedies and protecting all passengers.
• 📈 This policy aims to rectify past oversights, ensuring that the technology to prevent such crashes is universally applied where it matters most.