The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rolled out new technology Monday designed to predict congestion, reduce flight delays and replace equipment air traffic controllers have relied on for decades.
The FAA awarded a contract to Air Space Intelligence for two new computer systems that will help the agency schedule and manage flights across the country, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced.
The technology is part of a broader effort to modernize an air traffic control system that still relies on aging radar, outdated communications equipment and, at some control towers, paper flight strips. The administration said it has committed $12.5 billion to the overhaul.
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Predicting delays before takeoff
One of the new systems will collect information about flight plans, airline schedules and the real-time locations of planes. That will help the FAA spot areas where too many flights could create congestion.
A second system will combine that information with weather forecasts, airport conditions and available airspace to identify potential problems before planes leave the ground.
Together, the systems are intended to reduce delays, improve the flow of air traffic and allow the FAA to make better use of available airspace.
Right now, controllers may have to check several systems, screens and spreadsheets for information about weather, airport capacity and other conditions. The new technology will put that information in one place, allowing controllers to see flight paths and weather conditions on the same display.
“Once implemented, we will fundamentally reshape how the airspace is managed — slashing thousands of delays and cancellations in the process,” Duffy said.
Bedford said the technology could help the FAA address scheduling conflicts before flights take off, potentially reducing congestion and controllers’ workload.
The FAA plans to begin using the new software on a limited basis this fall.
Replacing decades-old equipment
The new software is just one part of a larger effort to update the nation’s air traffic control system.
The FAA plans to replace aging copper communication lines with faster fiber-optic and wireless connections. It also plans to install new radios, replace old equipment controllers used to communicate with pilots and upgrade radar systems.
More than 5,170 new high-speed connections are planned by 2028, along with 27,000 digital radios at 1,581 locations and 450 new communication systems for controllers.
Another major change involves the paper strips controllers have long used to keep track of flights. The FAA plans to replace those strips with electronic displays that provide updated information about aircraft and airport traffic, with the technology planned for 89 control towers by 2028.
Overall, the modernization effort will reach 4,600 FAA locations and involve more than 50 companies.
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