Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025

Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 proposes sweeping safety and workforce measures for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and related parties. It creates an independent expert panel to audit and improve the FAA’s Safety Management System (SMS) across all FAA lines of business, with formal recommendations to be reported to Congress. The bill strengthens ADS-B requirements (both Out and In) to boost situational awareness and collision avoidance, and it extends oversight and coordination with the Department of Defense (DoD) through formal safety reviews of airspace and a joint information-sharing framework. It also protects FAA staffing and recruitment, extending hiring authorities for air traffic controllers, expanding training programs (including a enhanced initiative with colleges), and adding risk-analysis procedures (TARAM) for transport airplanes. Additional provisions push for more whistleblower oversight, and require stronger oversight of DoD-related aviation safety information sharing. In short, the bill aims to improve aviation safety by (1) improving FAA governance and transparency around safety management; (2) tightening and standardizing ADS-B use; (3) enhancing safety reviews of airspace near military and other operations; (4) ensuring DoD-Fed info sharing; (5) protecting FAA staffing and accelerating ATC workforce development; and (6) strengthening risk analysis and employee reporting mechanisms. If enacted, these measures could affect airlines, air traffic controllers, pilots, DoD operations, and the traveling public by increasing safety processes, workforce stability, and technology use in the national airspace.