'Unacceptable action': Victim's families, transportation officials push for aviation safety changes, tell me about this news in (https://www.kcci.com/article/victims-families-transportation-officials-push-for-aviation-safety-changes/73748484)

This news report covers a push by victims’ families, transportation officials, and lawmakers demanding urgent federal action on aviation safety following the deadly midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), where an Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet collided over the Potomac River.Key points covered in the report include:

• NTSB Deems FAA Response “Unacceptable Action”: National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy announced that the agency has classified one-third of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) responses to its post-crash recommendations as “unacceptable action.” Homendy warned that every day recommendations remain unaddressed represents an unacceptable risk to flight crews and the traveling public.
• Crucial Technology in Question (ADS-B In): The primary safety recommendation at the center of the dispute is mandating “ADS-B In” (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast In) technology across all aircraft operating in shared airspace, including military aircraft. The system displays real-time positional data of nearby planes directly in the cockpit. Officials stated that had this technology been installed and operational, the collision would have been prevented.
• Congressional Deadlock: The push highlights frustration over legislative gridlock in Congress between competing measures:
  • The Rotor Act, which passed the Senate unanimously, requires strict ADS-B In mandates for all aircraft, ensuring military and civilian aircraft adhere to the same airspace safety standards.
  • The Alert Act in the House, which proposed less stringent requirements and stalled unified legislative progress.
• Criticism from Victims’ Families: Family members who lost loved ones in the crash spoke out against bureaucratic delays, lobbying pushback, and congressional inaction. They stressed that post-tragedy condolences cannot replace proactive regulations and urged lawmakers and industry leaders not to prioritize cost concerns or quarterly earnings over basic, preventative safety equipment.