FAA ordered to tighten low-altitude airspace safety rules
H.R. 9695 — McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act · Filed by Cliff Bentz (R-OR) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Jul 15, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill requires the FAA to review and update its regulations and guidance on low-altitude airspace safety within 6 months, with particular focus on marking and lighting requirements for temporary obstacles like slacklines, tightropes, and wires that pose hazards to low-flying aircraft. If the review finds gaps, the FAA must update its rules within 1 year and brief Congress on findings and any recommended legislative changes.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is a mandatory FAA review of low-altitude airspace safety policies and potential regulatory updates. It is a straightforward public-safety mandate with no private beneficiaries or liability shields.
What the text implies
- The bill's focus on slackline and tightrope marking may reflect a specific incident or pattern of low-altitude aircraft strikes; the legislative history is not provided, so the scope of the underlying hazard is unclear.
- The requirement to consult with 'uncrewed aircraft system operators' and improve digital depiction in flight-planning tools suggests the FAA may be preparing for expanded drone operations in low-altitude airspace, which could have broader implications for airspace management.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill mandates a safety review and potential regulatory improvements to reduce aircraft accidents in low-altitude airspace, protecting pilots and the public from collisions with unmarked temporary obstacles. The mechanism is transparent and creates no private carve-outs or liability shields.