ALERT Act

(a) In general. Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall, in coordination with the exclusive bargaining representative of air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code, develop and implement initial, recurrent, and refresher training for air traffic controllers on threat and error management that is instructor-led and scenario-based.

(b) Consultation. In developing the training under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult with representatives of—

(1) organizations representing air traffic control managers and operations supervisors;

(2) aviation safety experts with specific knowledge of—

(A) human factors and human decision making in realistic operational settings; and

(B) threat and error management best practices and policies; and

(3) a career representative from the National Transportation Safety Board with subject matter expertise as an observer.

(c) Considerations. In developing the training described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall consider, at a minimum—

(1) the findings and recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board, including as contained in the final aviation investigation report, AIR–26–02, adopted on January 27, 2026, such as—

(A) training controllers to continuously monitor their environment to more quickly and accurately identify threats;

(B) promoting team communication to ensure that communications are clear, timely, and assertive;

(C) emphasizing effective scanning habits;

(D) recognizing patterns in the development of adverse events; and

(E) enhanced decision making under stress by developing habits that balance procedural compliance with problem-solving;

(2) the requirements of—

(A) FAA Order JO 3120.4S, titled Air Traffic Technical Training, issued on August 28, 2024;

(B) FAA Order JO 7210.3EE, titled Facility Operation and Administration, issued on February 20, 2025;

(C) FAA Order JO 7110.65BB, titled Air Traffic Control, issued on February 20, 2025; and

(D) other relevant air traffic control standards, guidance, and policies;

(3) the frequency of the recurrent and refresher training described in subsection (a) and whether frequency should be increased for air traffic controllers in facilities managing high-complexity or high-volume airspace;

(4) data, reports, and peer-reviewed studies on human factors and threat and error management best practices;

(5) the appropriate use of tower simulator systems and other advanced training technologies to supplement the recurrent training described in subsection (a), including the use of data analytics from such systems and technologies to individualize instruction;

(6) the use of data analytics to identify systemic gaps in the recurrent and refresher training described in subsection (a) and to dynamically enhance training curriculum and techniques;

(7) data gathered from aviation safety reporting programs; and

(8) any other item determined appropriate by the Administrator.

(d) Implementation. Not later than 90 days after the development of the training under subsection (a), the Administrator shall revise the orders of the FAA described in subsection (c)(2), or any successor documents, and any corresponding policy or guidance materials, to reflect the requirements of this section.

(e) Briefing to Congress. Not later than 1 year after the training requirements under this section and section 109 are established, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the implementation of such training and any potential recommendations for improvements.

(f) Threat and error management defined. In this section, the term threat and error management has the meaning described in chapter 6 of the Risk Management Handbook (FAA H–8083–2A) or any successor document.