US senators near deal on military helicopter safety legislation

WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - U.S. senators are close to a deal to approve legislation to toughen military helicopter safety rules and rescind a provision in an annual defense bill approved on Wednesday that sparked alarm, congressional aides said.

Republican Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz is expected to go to the floor on Wednesday to seek unanimous consent to approve a revised version of legislation co-sponsored by Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell that would require aircraft operators by the end of 2031 to equip their fleets with an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast system, also known as ADS-B, and boosting oversight of commercial jet and helicopter traffic and flight routes near commercial airports.