A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reveals that the FAA's air traffic control system is struggling with a persistent shortage of certified controllers, despite receiving over 200,000 applications. The GAO attributes the problem to a rigid hiring and training pipeline, age restrictions, and limited flexibility in staffing.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is facing significant disruptions due to challenging winter weather, with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines canceling hundreds of flights on January 7, 2025. The airport's de-icing fluid supplies are running low, and airlines continue to struggle with cancellations.
The US Senate has passed the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act in response to a fatal midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January 2025. The legislation aims to eliminate exemptions for certain government aircraft operating without ADS-B Out, increasing situational awareness for pilots and air traffic controllers.
The US government has acknowledged its role in the January 2025 collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Eagle jet over the Potomac River in Washington D.C. The accident resulted in the deaths of 67 people, with court documents filed on December 17, 2025, accepting the government's responsibility for the breach of duty of care.
A second near midair collision involving a US Air Force aerial refueling tanker was reported near Venezuelan airspace on December 13, 2025. The incident occurred when a Falcon 900EX business jet flying from Aruba to Miami encountered the tanker without an active transponder.
A JetBlue flight from Curaçao to New York narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a US Air Force tanker shortly after takeoff, according to Flightradar24. The incident took place on December 12, 2025, when the aircraft was climbing to 34,000 feet.
A US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing has reignited a debate over ADS-B tracking, with lawmakers pushing for new guardrails around aircraft tracking. The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act (PAPA) aims to restrict ADS-B use to safety functions, while also including transparency provisions for airports imposing landing fees on general aviation aircraft.