JavaScript Required

Jumpseat Aerospace News requires JavaScript to function. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings to continue.

FAA, NTSB Clash Over ADS-B In Mandate

February 1, 2026

3 min read

Key Takeaways

NTSB urges FAA to mandate ADS-B In for aircraft with ADS-B Out.
Dispute follows fatal midair collision near DCA in January 2025.
FAA Administrator says mandate requires congressional action.
Some airlines have voluntarily installed ADS-B In technology.

Silver membership required Upgrade to Silver to access Key Takeaways.

Upgrade

Strategic Implications

The FAA and NTSB disagreement may indicate a deeper divide over regulatory priorities, which could impact the pace of safety technology adoption in the US fleet. The debate suggests that the implementation of ADS-B In could be influenced by factors such as cost, compatibility, and congressional action, which may affect the overall safety of the national airspace system.

Silver membership required Upgrade to Silver to access Strategic Implications.

Upgrade

What Happened

Fatal DCA Crash Sparks Debate On Cockpit Collision Warning Technology

A dispute between the FAA and NTSB has emerged over the mandate of ADS-B In, a cockpit technology that allows pilots to see nearby aircraft. The debate follows a fatal midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January 2025, which killed 67 people. The NTSB has recommended that the FAA require ADS-B In on aircraft that already carry ADS-B Out, but the FAA has said it would not impose a mandate without congressional action. Some airlines, such as American Airlines and United Airlines, have already voluntarily installed the technology on some of their aircraft. The debate has also moved to Congress, with lawmakers considering competing approaches to collision-avoidance mandates. This development was first reported by AeroTime.

Source

Companies Mentioned