ROTOR Act Mandates Aircraft Tracking Tech by 2031, Cracks Down on Government Flight Secrecy

The Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act, or the ROTOR Act, is all about bringing more eyes and better technology into the national airspace. At its core, the bill does two big things: it mandates a major technology upgrade for most aircraft and severely limits when government planes can fly without being tracked.

The End of Flying Blind: Your New Equipment Mandate

This is the part that hits aircraft owners and operators right in the wallet. The bill mandates that nearly every aircraft already required to broadcast its position via ADS-B Out must also install and use ADS-B In technology. Think of ADS-B Out as your car’s GPS broadcasting where you are; ADS-B In is the screen in your car showing you where everyone else is. This technology is critical for safety because it gives pilots real-time traffic advisories and alerts, increasing situational awareness significantly.

The deadline is December 31, 2031, for most affected aircraft. While the FAA must establish performance standards and is directed to find low-cost alternatives for smaller planes (under 12,500 pounds), the cost of this mandate—which includes equipment purchase, installation, and certification—will be substantial for the aviation industry, from major airlines to small flight schools. The FAA is required to justify this rule by presuming the equipment is cost-beneficial and improves safety, but operators still have to figure out how to pay for the retrofit of entire fleets over the next decade.

No More Ghost Flights: Government Tracking Transparency

For years, federal agencies have been able to turn off their ADS-B tracking systems, often leading to “ghost flights” that appear invisible to the public and air traffic control (ATC) systems. The ROTOR Act severely narrows the definition of a “sensitive government mission” that allows this exception. Routine flights, training exercises, and flights carrying officials below the rank of Cabinet Member or the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are explicitly excluded from using this secrecy cloak (Sec. 3).

If a government aircraft does turn off its tracker for a truly sensitive mission, the operating agency must now notify ATC and provide detailed monthly reports to Congress, including a classified annex for truly secret operations. Furthermore, the FAA is required to assess whether each non-transmitting operation jeopardized aviation safety. This is a huge win for transparency, forcing agencies to justify every time they disappear from the radar, and giving Congress the data needed to oversee these operations.

Airspace Safety Checkup: Targeting Complex Airspace

The bill also directs the FAA to get serious about coordinating with the military, specifically by creating a new Office of FAA-DOD Coordination (Sec. 7). This office is tasked with initiating a massive safety review of airspace around major commercial airports, starting with Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and then moving to all Class B, C, and D airports based on risk criteria.

These reviews will scrutinize how military aircraft, rotorcraft (like helicopters), and drones operate in and around busy commercial flight paths. For people who live near or fly out of these major hubs, this means the FAA will be actively looking for and fixing potential collision risks caused by complex, overlapping civilian and military flight operations. The FAA must consult with air traffic controllers, pilots, and emergency responders to identify safety gaps and develop corrective action plans.

The Fine Print: What Else is Buried in the Bill?

• Army Oversight: The Inspector General of the Army must conduct a detailed audit of Army aviation safety practices in the National Capital Region, specifically looking at pilot training, ADSB usage, and maintenance protocols for Black Hawk helicopters (Sec. 6).
• Data Sharing: The FAA must sign new Memoranda of Understanding with the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard to share safety information between their respective accident and incident reporting systems. This is a bureaucratic but vital step to ensure that military safety trends inform civilian safety planning (Sec. 8).
• Repeal of Safety Provision: Curiously, the bill repeals Section 373(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, which dealt with manned rotary wing aircraft safety provisions (Sec. 5). While the exact impact of this repeal needs further analysis of the original provision, removing an existing safety measure is always a provision worth watching.