Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025

This bill addresses aviation safety, such as through increasing requirements for aircraft tracking, communication, and coordination with the military. The bill also addresses Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) workforce issues.

For example, the bill revises and increases requirements for using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipment, which transmits information (e.g., location and weather information) between aircraft and air traffic control.

Under the bill, aircraft must generally operate with ADS-B In (receiving) equipment. The FAA must issue performance requirements for the equipment to provide safety-enhancing capabilities (e.g., facilitating aircraft collision avoidance) for flight crews.

Further, current FAA regulations allow aircraft performing a sensitive government mission to be excepted from requirements for using ADS-B Out (broadcasting) equipment. This bill limits which flights may be considered sensitive government missions (e.g., not training flights).

Summary by the Congressional Research Service.