U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy unveiled a new plan Thursday to overhaul the nation’s aging air traffic control system. The three-year initiative led by the FAA aims to replace outdated technology, which officials say has contributed to deadly crashes and ongoing safety concerns.
FAA gears up to overhaul outdated system
In a press briefing, Duffy highlighted the urgency of updating the current system. “This technology is 50 years old that our controllers use to scan the skies and keep airplanes separated from one another,” he said.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy likened the current air traffic control system to a flip phone, which is outdated and unable to evolve. In contrast, Duffy emphasized that modern systems are like iPhones, which can receive software updates and adjustments as needed to stay current and efficient.
Just last week, air traffic controllers in Newark, N.J., lost all contact with pilots after a failure in outdated copper wiring disrupted radar feeds between New York and Philadelphia.
“Newark has been a great example of when this old infrastructure goes down, and what happened in Newark is the main communication line went down,” Duffy said. “We had that 30 to 90 seconds of a blackout, which is frightening. And if we don’t actually accomplish the mission that we’re announcing today, you will see Newark’s, not just in Newark. You’ll see Newark’s in other parts of the country because it’s an aging system.”
The new plan will replace these old copper lines with fiber, satellite, and wireless technology at more than 4,600 locations across the country.
The modernization also includes the addition of six new air traffic control centers, which Duffy said will make a noticeable difference for pilots. Additionally, the FAA will replace hundreds of radar systems and introduce new technology to help prevent collisions both in the air and on the ground.
FAA wants funding for plan upfront
Duffy stressed the need for immediate funding to make the plan a reality. “One of the problems of the past is when you give small tranches of money year over year, politics change, leadership changes, presidents change, interest changes, and it never gets built. So I’m going to ask Congress for upfront appropriations to give us all the money,” he said.
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The current U.S. air traffic control system relies on technology that is more than 50 years old, with some radar systems dating back to the 1970s.
Duffy and the FAA have repeatedly stated that the current system cannot keep up with the 45,000 flights that take off every day. While Duffy did not disclose the cost of the new plan, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee estimates it could exceed $12 billion to replace the existing air traffic control system.
Rep. Sam Graves, a key member of the House committee, pointed to recent legislative efforts to help fund the modernization. “In our budget process, the bill we passed last week included a down payment of $12.5 billion to begin work on these necessary upgrades,” Graves said.
Plan receives bipartisan support
Another committee member, Rep. Rick Larsen, a Democrat, said the changes will need bipartisan support. He said Democrats on Capitol Hill are ready to stand behind Duffy and the FAA to make the plan happen.
Another recent incident highlighted the importance of these upgrades. In January, a collision between a military helicopter and a commercial plane over Washington, D.C., killed 67 people, underscoring the risks of delayed modernization.
