Aviation safety under strain as pilots push Congress on technology

This summer, millions of Americans will head to the airport ready for long-awaited vacations, family visits and once-in-a-lifetime adventures. They’ll pack their bags, pass through airport security lines, and make their way through crowded terminals. On board, they will fasten their seat belts, listen to the safety briefing and get ready for the flight ahead. Throughout it all, they will trust that every layer of the aviation system is working as it should.

This trust is well placed. The U.S. aviation system remains the safest in the world because it is built on layers of protection: highly skilled pilots, rigorous training, strong standards, and coordination that helps crews identify risks before they become emergencies. Today, these layers are under increasing pressure. More traffic, more complexity and aging infrastructure. Gaps recently identified in security technology also narrow the margin of error.

Most travelers don’t get to see the full spectrum of the U.S. air security system in action. As pilots, we see this every day. We have the responsibility to prioritize the safety of every flight and have the authority to delay, cancel, rescind or divert where necessary. We are trained to put together the whole picture before takeoff – weather, fuel, alternative airports – and continue assessing the risk until the aircraft is safely parked at the gate. This is a duty we take seriously. That’s why we cannot remain silent while the aviation system sends out clear warning signs.

Over the past 15 months, signs of tension have become impossible to ignore. A fatal mid-air collision near Washington National Airport. Fatal runway collision at LaGuardia. A growing list of near misses. An obsolete air traffic control system. Permanent controller staff shortage. Each is concerning in its own right. Together, they point to a weakening system.

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Mitigating this risk requires continued investment in technology, infrastructure and the people who keep the system running safely. This means modernizing air traffic control systems, replacing old equipment and ensuring there are sufficient numbers of fully trained controllers. Congress last year made a significant down payment on modernizing air traffic control, but the work can’t stop there. The system needs constant and long-term financing to keep up with increasingly crowded airspace.

Strengthening the system also means equipping pilots with the latest technology on the flight deck. The House-passed ALERT Act takes important steps in response to the 2025 crash near Washington National Airport, but does not go far enough to close the safety gaps it exposed. Chief among them is the need for a simple, common-sense standard: All aircraft operating in the nation’s busiest and most complex airspace should be required to use the same real-time monitoring and warning technology to prevent collisions.

Today, commercial aircraft flying near major airports in the United States are often required to use ADS-B Out, which broadcasts real-time information about the aircraft’s location, altitude, speed and heading. But ADS-B In (the technology that receives this information and displays nearby aircraft on flight deck screens for pilots) is still not required. This is a problem that is exacerbated when military and other government aircraft operating in busy civilian airspace are not required to transmit the same data as commercial aircraft.

IMAGES SHOW THE MOMENTS BEFORE A FRONTIER AIRLINES JET HITS A PERSON ON THE DENVER AIRPORT RUNWAY

Therefore, a final aviation security bill should require a fully integrated ADS-B In security suite. Pilots need more than the ALERT Act’s narrow update of the current collision avoidance system, a system that will provide limited capability, especially at low altitudes, and will not work on runways and taxiways.

A full ADS-B Interior suite, as required by the Senate-passed ROTOR Act, will give pilots a clearer view of nearby aircraft in the air and on the airport surface, as well as early visual and audio warnings when the system detects that another aircraft may pose a collision risk.

This additional time can help pilots detect aircraft earlier and decide whether evasive action is necessary. Combined with fewer exemptions for military and government aircraft and a stricter deadline for mandatory use, the ROTOR Act will help prevent a tragedy like the fatal mid-air collision in Washington from ever happening again.

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Congress should not settle for a partial solution to this recently identified vulnerability when proven technology exists today and the consequences are too great to ignore.

Mitigating this risk requires continued investment in technology, infrastructure and the people who keep the system running safely.

Every pilot is trained to pay attention to warning lights, but a warning doesn’t mean disaster is inevitable. This means something needs attention before the situation escalates. Our aviation system is at this point today. Flying remains safe, but recent crashes, near misses and technology gaps have made it clear that the system passengers and shippers rely on is under pressure.

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As summer travel increases, Congress has an opportunity to strengthen the layers of security that protect millions of travelers. It should start by listening to the people who see increasing pressure within the system every day: the pilots.

Lawmakers should not choose between ROTOR and ALERT; They should choose the best of both.