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. 119. Requiring vertical separation near airports during critical phases of flight Changed · Apr 9

Where this section came from

  1. Feb 20, 2026 · Introduced in House Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Feb 20 Referred to House Committee on Armed Services, Feb 20
  2. 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 changed in the text

… 4 unchanged passages …

(2) Content requirements. At minimum, each such chart shall clearly convey for each of the segments, the recommended flight altitudes, including altitude ceilings and floors, and any necessary instructions, to ensure convey minimum separation, in accordance with FAA Order JO 7110.65BB, titled Air Traffic Control (or any successor document), between— (A) a helicopter or powered-lift aircraft utilizing such segment; and

… 2 unchanged passages …

(e) Annual review. The Administrator shall ensure that any changes made to Helicopter Route Charts as a result of this section are assessed on an annual basis as part of the annual review described in section 115 120 .

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. Except as provided in subsection (b), the Administrator shall ensure that each segment of a helicopter route contains, in the appropriate helicopter route chart, recommended flight altitudes, including altitude ceilings and floors, in a manner consistent with FAA Order JO 7210.3EE, titled Facility Operation and Administration (or any successor document).

(b) Consideration of vertical separation in route criteria. Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall amend FAA Order JO 7210.3EE, titled Facility Operation and Administration (or any successor document), to add minimum vertical separation requirements to the criteria for the helicopter route chart program.

(c) Charting minimum separation near airports

(1) In general. The Administrator shall ensure that any helicopter chart that represents an area near an airport clearly conveys to an operator the segments of such helicopter routes in the vicinity of such airport.

(2) Content requirements. At minimum, each such chart shall clearly convey for each of the segments, the recommended flight altitudes, including altitude ceilings and floors, and any necessary instructions, to convey minimum separation, in accordance with FAA Order JO 7110.65BB, titled Air Traffic Control (or any successor document), between—

(A) a helicopter or powered-lift aircraft utilizing such segment; and

(B) a fixed-wing aircraft operating at or near such airport during critical phases of flight.

(d) Update policy. Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall update FAA Order JO 7210.3EE, titled Facility Operation and Administration (or any successor document), to account for any additional changes made by this section.

(e) Annual review. The Administrator shall ensure that any changes made to Helicopter Route Charts as a result of this section are assessed on an annual basis as part of the annual review described in section 120.

II Department of Defense Matters