After Chinese balloon flies across US, Senators seek end to incursions

Robert Besser
19 Mar 2023, 05:08 GMT+10

US Senators Mark Kelly and Ted Budd will introduce legislation mandating tracking systems that detect high-altitude weather and research balloons.
After US fighter jets shot down a Chinese balloon and three other objects last month, the two senators told Reuters they will introduce legislation to help identify balloons operating in US airspace.
Under the legislation, the Federal Aviation Administration must issue regulations mandating equipping high-altitude balloons with tracking systems to transmit altitude, identity and location.

WASHINGTON D.C.: US Senators Mark Kelly, a Democrat, and Ted Budd, a Republican, will introduce legislation this week to help the US military differentiate between potential threats by mandating tracking systems that detect high-altitude weather and research balloons.

After US fighter jets shot down a Chinese balloon and three other objects last month, the two senators told Reuters they will introduce legislation to help identify balloons operating in US airspace.

Under the legislation, the Federal Aviation Administration must issue regulations within two years mandating equipping high-altitude balloons operating at 10,000 feet above sea level or higher with tracking systems to transmit altitude, identity and location.

A former US Navy pilot and NASA astronaut, Kelly said, "At a time when our adversaries are using hostile surveillance tactics, there is no reason why our country should have to wonder whether an object in our airspace is a threat, weather balloon, or science project."

In a statement, Budd, who is a pilot, said, "The recent shoot down of a Chinese spy balloon that traversed the skies over our country for more than a week highlights the immediate need for the FAA to re-evaluate how we track objects flying over American airspace."

The FAA is also required by the legislation to work with the International Civil Aviation Organization to draft equivalent international standards for high-altitude balloons, and must create a committee to propose recommendations to update existing regulations.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Colorado Star.

More Information

34 ℉

Fair in Aurora/Buckley Afb

International Business

Section

Microsoft president denies super-intelligent AI possible in 12 months

REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft President Brad Smith said there is no chance of super-intelligent artificial intelligence (AI) being developed within the ...

India to become world's third largest economy S&P

The South Asian nation will be the fastest-growing emerging market in the coming years, the rating agency saidIndia is set ...

SIAL India and Vinexpo India set to showcase global culinary diversity in New Delhi exhibition

New Delhi [India], December 5 (ANI): The culinary world is gearing up for a showcase at the 5th edition of ...

ADB, GEAPP and MAS join forces for energy transition finance partnership in Asia

New Delhi [India], December 5 (ANI): The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), ...

US Commerce Secy Raimondo, Piyush Goyal discuss future collaboration on supply chains

Washington DC [US], December 5 (ANI): US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush ...

Yellen Heads to Mexico to Boost Work on Fentanyl, Supply Chains

washington - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will travel to Mexico City this week to boost cooperation with Mexican counterparts ...

US

Section