{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-merkley-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-enhance-aviation-safety-after-slackline-helicopter-tragedy", "Curtis, Merkley Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Aviation Safety After Slackline-Helicopter Tragedy", "2026-07-17", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act, bipartisan legislation that would direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address urgent aviation safety issues by reviewing and updating existing safeguards for temporary obstructions in the low-altitude airspace, such as slacklines. The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).\n\n\u201cHigh-adventure activities in Utah, like slacklining, should not come at the cost of aviation safety, particularly for helicopter pilots who transport patients, fight wildfires, and support search and rescue missions,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cOur bipartisan bill takes a practical look at where the FAA can modernize its policies, improve coordination, and reduce unnecessary risks so everyone sharing our airspace can do so more safely.\u201d\n\n\u201cStrengthening aviation safety is something that both Republicans and Democrats can get behind, especially following the tragic slackline collision that took the lives of four Oregonians earlier this year,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cThe FAA must do all it can to keep the flying public safe, and our bipartisan McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act directs the agency to prioritize aviation safety. We must move swiftly to reduce the risk of any similar tragedy in the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongress must act with urgency to ensure federal regulators are taking every possible step to prevent low-flying aircraft crashes with slacklines like the tragedy that cost the lives of four Oregonians earlier this year,\u201d said Senator Wyden. \u201cThis bill would accomplish that goal by setting deadlines for the Federal Aviation Administration to update and improve its policies and regulations for low-altitude airspace safety.\u201d\n\n\u201cDavid, Katelyn, Rachel, and Faith lost their lives in an Arizona helicopter crash that never should have happened. I\u2019ve met with their family. No one should have to go through what they\u2019ve been through. This bill makes sure the FAA acts quickly to prevent tragedies like this from happening again,\u201d said Senator Kelly.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe introduction of the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act follows a deadly helicopter crash caused by a collision with a slackline on January 2, 2026, that tragically claimed the lives of four Oregonians\u2014David McCarty and his three nieces Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty, and Katelyn Heideman. The bipartisan bill would instruct the FAA to use its authorities to review existing policies and regulations related to low-altitude airspace safety, including identifying appropriate policy, operational, or technical improvements such as updated requirements related to markings on slacklines.\n\nThe full text of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe bipartisan McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act is supported by Southern Utah University (SUU) Aviation, Vertical Aviation International (VAI), National Transportation Aviation Association (NATA), Balloon Federation of America (BFA), United Aerial Firefighters Association (UAFA), Air Medical Operators Association (AMOA), Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS), National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), BackcountryPilot.org, American Spray Drone Coalition, Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Life Flight Network, National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA), and Commercial Drone Alliance.\n\nOn behalf of the McCarty and Heideman family, \u201cWe are very grateful and excited to see the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act be introduced. It is a crucial and urgent step towards making the airspace safer for pilots, passengers, cargo, and anyone using the airspace for work or recreation. We look forward to working on getting this across the finish line!\u201d\n\n\u201cAt Southern Utah University\u2019s School of Aviation, we are preparing the next generation of pilots to operate safely in an increasingly complex National Airspace System. That requires more than strong flight training, it requires pilots to have timely, accurate, and easily accessible information about hazards in the airspace around them. The McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act takes a practical approach by improving transparency, strengthening coordination, and examining how temporary obstruction information can be integrated into the digital flight-planning tools pilots use every day. Safety of flight and protection of the National Airspace System must remain our highest priorities, and we appreciate Senator Curtis\u2019s leadership on this important bipartisan legislation,\u201d said Michael Mower, Executive Director, Chief Instructor Southern Utah University\u2019s School of Aviation.\n\n\u201cWildfire airspace overlaps public lands and recreation. Formal coordination with the FAA, Forest Service, BLM, and Park Service\u2014paired with real outreach and right sized penalties for creating low altitude hazards\u2014prevents tragedies before they happen. We strongly support this bill and urge swift passage,\u201d said Paul Peterson, Executive Director, United Aerial Firefighters Association.\n\n\u201cThe National Agricultural Aviation Association firmly endorses the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act. The requirements this act places on the FAA will help ensure no more aviators operating in the low altitude airspace lose their life because of an unmarked slackline or other hazard strung across the landscape,\u201d said Matthew Woolard, President, National Agricultural Aviation Association.\n\n\u201cThe American Spray Drone Coalition (ASDC) strongly endorses the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act, reflecting our deep commitment to promoting high standards of low-altitude airspace safety for both crewed and uncrewed aviators. By directing the FAA to review existing safety policies, this legislation takes a critical first step toward assessing necessary improvements for temporary obstruction markings and ensuring obstacle data can be seamlessly integrated into modern digital flight planning tools,\u201d said Eric Ringer, President, American Spray Drone Association.", 1, "2026-07-18T06:58:50Z", "2026-07-18T07:00:34Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-merkley-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-enhance-aviation-safety-after-slackline-helicopter-tragedy"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9418839365243912, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}