H.R. 7613

ALERT Act

Sponsor: Sam Graves

87 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency Act of 2026 or the ALERT Act

This bill addresses aviation safety by increasing requirements for aircraft tracking and communication using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology and expanding oversight. As background, ADS-B for broadcasting (Out) and receiving (In) transmits information (e.g., location and weather) among aircraft and air traffic control (ATC).

The bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to enter into an agreement regarding the use of collision prevention technologies on DOD aircraft. The agreement must require the use of ADS-B Out as the default practice for DOD helicopters operating in the national airspace, unless such use would affect operational security. For DOD helicopters that are carrying out special missions in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area and are exempt from ADS-B Out transmission requirements, DOD must coordinate with DOT to conduct a safety risk assessment and implement appropriate mitigations.

By December 31, 2031, DOD aircraft (other than certain special mission aircraft) must be equipped with and operating integrated ADS-B In technology.

With respect to civil aircraft, by December 31, 2031, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must generally require aircraft that are currently required to be equipped with ADS-B Out to also be equipped with ADS-B In.

Additionally, among other requirements, the FAA must

  • establish time-on-position limits for supervisory ATC personnel;
  • establish a process to timely notify parties involved in certain near-miss incidents; and
  • evaluate and revise, as necessary, helicopter routes around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Text of the bill

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I Civil Aviation Matters

Sec. 109. Controller visual separation training Added Apr 9

Where this section came from

Not in the first version (Introduced in House, Feb 20).

  1. Apr 9, 2026 · Reported in House Marked up by House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Mar 26 Marked up by House Committee on Armed Services, Mar 26 Reported by House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Apr 9 Reported by House Committee on Armed Services, Apr 9 Committee members' individual votes aren't in our records.
What is a markup?

A markup is a committee meeting where members go through a bill and vote on changes before sending it to the full chamber.

(a) In general. Not later than 270 days 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 tower-applied and pilot-applied visual separation procedures that is instructor-led and scenario-based.

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

(1) the certified bargaining representative of aviation safety inspectors and engineers for the FAA;

(2) organizations representing certified collective bargaining representatives of airline pilots;

(3) organizations representing air traffic control managers and supervisors;

(4) organizations representing general aviation pilots; and

(5) aviation safety experts with specific knowledge of—

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

(B) tower-applied and pilot-applied visual separation procedures and regulations.

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

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

(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), including—

(A) whether such frequency should be increased for air traffic controllers in facilities managing high-complexity or high-volume airspace; and

(B) the need for advance training and guidance ahead of any changes to FAA visual separation policies;

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

(5) 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;

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

(7) 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 subparagraph (c)(2), or any successor documents, and any corresponding policy or guidance materials, to reflect the requirements of this section.

II Department of Defense Matters