News Legislation strengthens collision prevention, airspace safety, and air traffic control standards. Alexandria, VA (Feb. 20, 2026) – Vertical Aviation International (VAI) expressed strong support for the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026 in a letter to US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.-06) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.-02). The bipartisan legislation responds to the findings of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) final report on the Jan. 29, 2025, Washington, D.C., midair collision, which was issued earlier this week. The ALERT Act addresses all 50 safety-related recommendations identified by the NTSB and incorporates each of its findings of probable cause. By responding to every recommendation, the legislation establishes a thorough, holistic framework for meaningful, system-wide improvements across the US National Airspace System. Critical safety issues the bill addresses include: Establishing requirements for equipping collision mitigation, avoidance, and alerting technologies and systems for civil fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft Improving helicopter route design, guidance, and separation Preventing loss of separation (near-miss) incidents Addressing deficiencies in the FAA’s safety culture Enhancing air traffic control training and procedures, particularly during high-traffic periods Strengthening airspace safety around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA), one of the busiest and most congested in the United States Repealing section 373(a) of the last National Defense Authorization Act, and more. “The ALERT Act represents a comprehensive effort to strengthen aviation safety in response to the NTSB’s findings,” says François Lassale, president and CEO of VAI. “This bipartisan legislation demonstrates Congress’s commitment to delivering thoughtful, data-driven reforms that strengthen safety throughout our aviation system.” VAI thanks Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen for their leadership, along with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.-03) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.-09) for their collaboration on provisions strengthening safety in shared civil-military airspace. VAI looks forward to continued engagement with Congress and the FAA as the legislation advances and implementation moves forward. Link to the text of the ALERT Act Link to a section-by-section summary of the ALERT Act
