Oregon — A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced legislation directing federal aviation regulators to examine safety rules for slacklines and other temporary obstructions that can endanger aircraft flying at low altitudes.
Oregon Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, Oregon Reps. Cliff Bentz and Val Hoyle, Utah Sen. John Curtis and lawmakers from Arizona and Montana are supporting the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act.
The legislation follows a Jan. 2, 2026, helicopter crash in Arizona that killed four Oregonians: David McCarty and his nieces Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty and Katelyn Heideman. According to the lawmakers, the helicopter collided with a slackline suspended in low-altitude airspace.
The bill would direct the Federal Aviation Administration to review its existing policies and regulations governing temporary low-altitude obstructions. The agency would be instructed to identify possible policy, operational and technical improvements, including updated requirements for marking slacklines.
“Strengthening 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,” Merkley said. “We must move swiftly to reduce the risk of any similar tragedy in the future.”
The proposal calls for an FAA review rather than directly establishing new nationwide slackline restrictions. Any resulting changes could affect how temporary suspended hazards are marked, reported or communicated to pilots.
Curtis said the legislation seeks to balance outdoor recreation with the safety of helicopter crews performing emergency medical transportation, wildfire response and search-and-rescue missions.
“Our 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,” Curtis said.
Hoyle said the Arizona crash exposed a broader challenge for low-altitude aviation.
“Oregonians know the value of both outdoor recreation and aviation, and we all share a responsibility to ensure that pilots, first responders and wildfire crews have the visibility and information they need to operate safely,” Hoyle said.
Wyden said the bill would establish deadlines for the FAA to update and improve its low-altitude safety policies and regulations. Bentz said he hoped the review would lead to changes capable of preventing similar crashes.
The victims’ family welcomed the legislation, calling it “a crucial and urgent step” toward protecting pilots, passengers and people using low-altitude airspace for work or recreation.
The measure has drawn support from aviation, emergency medical, firefighting, agricultural and drone organizations. Supporters include Vertical Aviation International, the National Air Transportation Association, Life Flight Network, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the National Agricultural Aviation Association.
Industry representatives said temporary suspended obstructions can be difficult for pilots to see and may not appear in the information or digital tools used to plan low-altitude flights.
“Ensuring that temporary obstructions are properly identified and that pilots have access to accurate, timely information is critical to a safe national aviation system,” said Gregory Pecoraro, president and CEO of the National Association of State Aviation Officials.
The bill must advance through committees and win approval from both chambers of Congress before it can be sent to the president.
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