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New York Times
18 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Republicans Unveil Aviation Safety Bill Before D.C. Crash Hearings
Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas and chairman of a panel that oversees aviation safety, has crafted new legislation intended to prevent accidents like the midair collision near Ronald Reagan National Airport in January that killed 67 people, just as a series of hearings into the cause of the crash is about to begin. The bill has already racked up some high-profile endorsements, including from the leaders of the Transportation Department and the Federal Aviation Administration. It also has the support of Jennifer Homendy, the chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, which plans to hold three days of hearings this week to examine the factors that led to the deadly collision of an American Airlines airplane and an Army Blackhawk helicopter over the Potomac River. Mr. Cruz's legislation, according to a copy obtained by The New York Times, would order the F.A.A. to require that nearly all government aircraft engaged in safety evaluation flights or training missions in congested airspace turn on technology that allows air traffic controllers to track them in real time. The provision would narrow an existing exemption that allows aircraft engaged in 'sensitive government missions' to turn off the technology. The military helicopter involved in the Jan. 29 crash was being flown that night as part of an annual pilot evaluation, and had that technology, known as ADS-B Out, turned off. The legislation also directs the F.A.A. to require that all new aircraft be equipped with another system, known as ADS-B In, which gives pilots information from other aircraft, as well as ground traffic and weather information in real time. The N.T.S.B. has recommended for more than two decades that ADS-B In be required in aircraft. Ms. Homendy told reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday that the legislation 'will save lives,' while Mr. Cruz told reporters that the changes were aimed at eradicating what he called a 'double standard in aviation safety.' 'We should not tolerate special exceptions for military training flights operating in congested airspace. No matter the circumstances, any aircraft operating near commercial traffic must fully adhere to safety standards,' he said. He added, 'We cannot have commercial airplanes and helicopters on a collision course ever again.' But Mr. Cruz's legislation has yet to receive the backing of any Democrats, some of whom are concerned that the bill stops short of imposing safety requirements stringent enough to fully address the problems it purports to bill is not the first introduced that attempts to mandate that more aircraft use real-time tracking technology around busy airports. In May, Senator Jerry Moran, Republican of Kansas and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation's aviation subcommittee, filed legislation requiring the use of real-time tracking technology for all aircraft operating around the nation's busiest airports. (Mr. Moran has endorsed Mr. Cruz's bill.) Last month, a group of Senate Democrats, led by Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, the top Democrat on the Commerce, Science and Transportation panel, introduced legislation that would require comprehensive use of the same tracking technology. Those provisions were part of a broader bill that also sought to accelerate air traffic controller training, freeze F.A.A. staff cuts, and order the F.A.A. and Army to complete a memorandum of understanding to avoid future accidents. Ms. Cantwell said on Tuesday she was 'committed to working with Chairman Cruz to ensure we get this right and honor the memory of those we lost.' But according to two people familiar with deliberations, she and other Democrats have privately expressed reservations about the way Mr. Cruz's bill lays out new safety requirements — and the length of time it gives the F.A.A. to implement the proposed changes. Under Mr. Cruz's bill, the head of the F.A.A. — a position newly occupied by Bryan Bedford, a longtime airline executive — has two years to issue regulations that would require airlines to install the real-time tracking technology on all new manned aircraft within the following three years, with the right to issue certain two-year extensions. Ms. Cantwell's bill demands a tighter timeline: installation on new aircraft within four years, regardless of whether the F.A.A. has issued new rules, and retrofitting of existing aircraft within the same period. In addition to the technology mandates, Mr. Cruz's legislation would require the Army's inspector general to begin an audit of its pilot training and qualification standards, and regulations governing the use of the technology that allows air traffic controllers to track aircraft in real time. It would also instruct the F.A.A. to study whether more of the airspace around Reagan National ought to be permanently closed to helicopter traffic, and scrutinize whether current flight routes around commercial airports guarantee enough separation between fixed-wing aircraft and those with rotors. Sean Duffy, the transportation secretary, called the bill 'the right approach,' though he allowed that his department might want to see 'a few tweaks' to the details. He signaled to lawmakers that they should not balk at the potential cost of implementing the new requirements. 'I don't think we should be concerned about cost when it comes to safety,' he said.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
US agency to probe FAA shift of airspace overseeing Newark
WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - A U.S. government watchdog said on Monday it will probe the Federal Aviation Administration's 2024 decision to relocate control of Newark's airspace to Philadelphia to address staffing shortages and congested New York City-area traffic. The Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General is opening the review after two serious outages of communications for air traffic controllers overseeing Newark's airspace in April and May sparked alarm. "These events have raised questions about FAA's management of the relocation, including impacts on system redundancy, controller staffing and training, and operational resilience," the inspector general's office said.
New York Post
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- New York Post
Only 400 EV-charging ports built under $7.5B US infrastructure program: GAO
US states have built less than 400 electric vehicle charging ports through April under $7.5 billion federal infrastructure programs, the Government Accountability Office said Tuesday. As of April 2025, 384 charging ports are operating at 68 stations in 16 states, GAO said, saying a joint office overseeing the program 'has not defined performance goals with measurable targets and time frames for its activities.' In May, California and 15 other states sued the Transportation Department, saying the federal government was illegally withholding at least $3 billion awarded to states for building EV charging stations under a 2021 infrastructure law. Advertisement As of April 2025, 384 charging ports are operating at 68 stations in 16 states, GAO said, saying a joint office overseeing the program 'has not defined performance goals with measurable targets and time frames for its activities.' UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The Transportation Department under President Trump in February suspended the EV charging program and rescinded approval of state plans pending a review. The GAO noted that Trump wants Congress to rescind $6 billion in unspent EV charging funding. Advertisement Nationwide, there are about 219,000 publicly available EV charging ports, according to the Energy Department. In June 2024, a Democratic senator criticized the previous Biden administration for deploying just seven EV charging stations with a few dozen ports calling it 'pathetic.' We're now three years into this … That is a vast administrative failure,' said Senator Jeff Merkley. 'Something is terribly wrong and it needs to be fixed.' The Trump administration has taken a number of steps to discourage EV sales. Advertisement The Transportation Department under President Trump in February suspended the EV charging program AP Trump signed legislation this month that will end the $7,500 EV tax credit and $4,000 used EV tax credit on Sept. 30. Trump in January revoked a 2021 executive order signed by Biden that sought to ensure half of all new vehicles sold in the United States by 2030 were electric. Advertisement In March, the General Services Administration told federal agencies that existing charging stations for government-owned EVs 'that are deemed not to be mission-critical should be disconnected from the network and turned off.' GSA said in April it had canceled 32 electric vehicle charging projects worth over $23 million.
Miami Herald
20-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Trump administration sanctions Mexico over air carrier trade pact
The Transportation Department has announced a series of actions against Mexico for violating a years-old bilateral air carrier trade pact. The department said Mexico has not been in compliance with the airline competition agreement since 2022 when it took back some slots for flights for U.S. air carriers at Benito Juarez International airport in Mexico City and forced U.S. cargo planes to shift their operations to other parts of the city. 'Since 2022, Mexico has altered the playing field significantly for airlines that reduce competition and allow prominent competitors to gain an unfair advantage in the U.S.-Mexico market,' a release from the Transportation Department said. 'The United States and Mexico have an air services agreement... that commits both parties to a liberalized operating environment for all has walked away from its commitments.' Mexico has said it rescinded the slots to make room for construction at the airport, but the work has yet to materialize three years later, the transportation department contended. 'By restricting slots and mandating that all-cargo operations move out of [Mexico City International Airport], Mexico has broken its promise, disrupted the market and left American businesses holding the bag for millions in increased costs,' the release continued. The 'America First' actions enacted by the Trump administration require Mexican airlines to file schedules with the transportation department for all of their U.S. operations, mandate prior DOT approval before operating any large passenger or cargo aircraft charter flights from the United States and addressing anti-competitive issues in the market. Mexico seized slots from U.S.-based carriers American Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines, as well as from three Mexican airlines -- Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris -- to make room for the construction. 'Despite repeated outreach from the Department, Mexico has not provided any information regarding when these slots would be returned or any major construction projects at MEX will ever materialize,' the release continued. Duffy added that the United States is also reviewing trade agreements with other countries to determine if they are being violated, including pacts with some European nations. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
20-07-2025
- Business
- UPI
Trump administration sanctions Mexico over air carrier trade pact
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced sanctions against Mexico for violating a trade deal at Mexico City's international airport. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo July 20 (UPI) -- The Transportation Department has announced a series of actions against Mexico for violating a years-old bilateral air carrier trade pact. The department said Mexico has not been in compliance with the airline competition agreement since 2022 when it took back some slots for flights for U.S. air carriers at Benito Juarez International airport in Mexico City and forced U.S. cargo planes to shift their operations to other parts of the city. "Since 2022, Mexico has altered the playing field significantly for airlines that reduce competition and allow prominent competitors to gain an unfair advantage in the U.S.-Mexico market," a release from the Transportation Department said. "The United States and Mexico have an air services agreement... that commits both parties to a liberalized operating environment for all has walked away from its commitments." Mexico has said it rescinded the slots to make room for construction at the airport, but the work has yet to materialize three years later, the transportation department contended. "By restricting slots and mandating that all-cargo operations move out of [Mexico City International Airport], Mexico has broken its promise, disrupted the market and left American businesses holding the bag for millions in increased costs," the release continued. The "America First" actions enacted by the Trump administration require Mexican airlines to file schedules with the transportation department for all of their U.S. operations, mandate prior DOT approval before operating any large passenger or cargo aircraft charter flights from the United States and addressing anti-competitive issues in the market. Mexico seized slots from U.S.-based carriers American Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines, as well as from three Mexican airlines -- Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris -- to make room for the construction. "Despite repeated outreach from the Department, Mexico has not provided any information regarding when these slots would be returned or any major construction projects at MEX will ever materialize," the release continued. Duffy added that the United States is also reviewing trade agreements with other countries to determine if they are being violated, including pacts with some European nations.
