The television commercial opens with iconic images from the 1980s: roller skates, cassette players, cell phones “the size of a brick” — and a computer running off a floppy disk. “That was then,” an announcer intones. “But four decades later, floppy disks are still being used to run our air traffic control system. Tell Washington that the time for change is NOW.”
The commercial from the aviation safety advocacy group Modern Skies adds to the pressure on the federal government to modernize the nation’s aging air traffic control system.
Chris Rocheleau, the acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), took the pressure to Capitol Hill on Thursday, June 5, asking a congressional panel for more money, upgrades and repairs. With the summer travel season underway, he also pledged to fix problems at one high-profile trouble spot — but not until October.
Addressing ‘significant operational risk’
Rocheleau, a former Air Force officer who took charge of the FAA in January, told the House Appropriations Committee’s transportation subcommittee that the air traffic control system is dangerously antiquated and a drain on the agency’s budget.
“We’re spending 90% of our funding right now just on maintaining, sometimes ‘Band-Aiding’ some of the equipment we have,” he said.
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The FAA is seeking $22 billion to modernize communications equipment, replace and repair radar systems, and hire and train 2,500 air traffic controllers.
The Trump administration asked for $22 billion for fiscal year 2026, which begins Oct. 1. The money would help modernize the FAA’s telecommunications infrastructure, which Rocheleau described as a “significant operational risk,” replace aging radar equipment, and would also hire and train as many as 2,500 new air traffic controllers.
“The whole idea is to replace the system,” Rocheleau said. “No more floppy disks or paper strips.”
Congressmen from both parties said they supported the budget request.
“Our commitment to safety and security will be steadfast and united,” said Rep. Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican who chairs the Appropriations Committee.
‘Fixing this now’ in Newark
Improving the air safety system has gained momentum since an American Airlines jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport on Jan. 29. No one from either aircraft survived.
A scary incident at Newark Liberty International Airport on April 28 added to the safety concerns. Air traffic controllers lost contact with all planes in the busy air space surrounding New York City for as long as 90 seconds — an incident that continues to affect air travel in the busy Northeastern corridor.
Five air traffic controllers who share responsibility for Newark are still on a 45-day trauma leave after the April incident, according to WNYW-TV in New York. The regional air traffic center in Philadelphia, which monitors Newark, now has only 16 controllers and five supervisors on duty, The Associated Press reported. Another 16 are training but won’t be on duty before October.
A shortage of controllers caused the FAA to order a 40-minute ground stop at Newark on Wednesday, June 4.
However, Rocheleau told the congressional panel that his agency is already addressing problems at Newark. A new fiber optic cable is being installed to connect the tower at Newark with the Philadelphia regional air traffic center.
“I would say I’m confident that by [the] October timeframe, the technology fixes will be resolved,” Rocheleau said. He added that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy “has been very clear with me that we need to fix this, and we’re fixing this now.
“The second piece to that is the staffing,” Rocheleau said. “I think by October, we will be very healthy in there at staffing levels that we need.”
Striking a balance
Fully modernizing the air safety system will take three to four years, Rocheleau said. “I believe we can get there.”
In his congressional testimony, Rocheleau tried to strike a balance between emphasizing the dire need to upgrade the air safety system and reassuring lawmakers and the public that flying is safe.
“The system is safe and will continue to be safe,” he said. “We will make sure of that.”
