FAA weighs broad aircraft tracking mandate after deadly D.C. midair collision

[American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport]
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images News

Federal aviation regulators are preparing a rule that would require most aircraft operating in U.S. civilian airspace to use technology that helps pilots identify and track nearby aircraft, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The proposal would expand the use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, or ADS-B, systems, which transmit information such as an aircraft's position, altitude, direction and identification. In addition to broadcasting their own location, aircraft would be required to receive and display information from nearby planes, allowing pilots to better detect potential collision risks.

For investors, the move could create new demand for avionics upgrades, cockpit displays and surveillance equipment across commercial, military and general aviation fleets. Companies supplying flight-deck electronics and air traffic management technology could benefit if the FAA moves forward with a broad implementation plan.

Commercial airlines already use ADS-B Out technology to transmit location data, but regulators are considering extending requirements to additional aircraft categories and airspace. The proposal would also expand adoption of ADS-B In, which enables pilots to view nearby aircraft equipped with the system.

The issue has gained urgency since the January 2025 collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines (AAL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AAL]) regional jet near Washington's Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people. According to investigators, the helicopter wasn’t transmitting its position through ADS-B Out and neither aircraft was using ADS-B In to display nearby traffic information.

The National Transportation Safety Board has advocated for wider use of ADS-B In for nearly two decades and has urged the FAA to implement additional safeguards following the crash.

Industry groups and lawmakers have debated how such requirements should be structured, with some warning that cockpit upgrades could be costly for aircraft operators. Estimates for certain retrofits can exceed $50,000 per aircraft, although lower-cost alternatives are available in some cases.

The FAA said no final decision has been made, but officials continue to evaluate measures aimed at improving airspace safety and addressing recommendations stemming from the NTSB's investigation.

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