The Trump administration introduced a proposal on Thursday aimed at revamping the outdated U.S. air traffic control system, which officials claim still uses antiquated technology such as floppy disks and spare parts procured from eBay. The initiative comes in response to heightened concerns following recent fatal aircraft accidents and technical malfunctions.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled the plan that outlines the construction of six new air traffic control facilities and a host of technology and communication enhancements at the country’s air traffic centers over the coming three to four years. Duffy likened the upgrade to evolving from an old-fashioned flip phone to a modern smartphone, citing, “We use radar from the 1970s,” which dates back to 50 years ago when technology for monitoring and separating aircraft was first introduced.
While the exact cost of this ambitious plan has not been disclosed, Duffy remarked that discussions with Congress regarding financial specifics are underway. He did, however, indicate that the investment would amount to “billions, lots of billions.” The aggressive timeline seeks completion by 2028, but Duffy acknowledged the possibility of further extending by an additional year.
The urgency for such improvements grew following the tragic midair collision in January involving an Army helicopter and commercial airliner, resulting in 67 fatalities near Washington, D.C. Duffy noted that this disaster, along with other incidents, underscored the immediate necessity for these upgrades. He addressed airline executives, union officials, and victims’ families from the January crash near Reagan National Airport.
The overhaul plan details the installation of fiber, wireless, or satellite technologies across over 4,600 locations, the replacement of 618 radars, and a significant expansion of systems at airports to minimize runway near-misses. Additionally, the plan proposes constructing six new air traffic control centers and standardizing new hardware and software across all air traffic facilities.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee recently approved a $12.5 billion preliminary budget to initiate the overhaul; however, this figure predates the Transportation Department’s detailed plan, which Duffy asserts will necessitate a higher budget.
U.S. Representative Sam Graves, overseeing the House transportation committee, labeled this funding as merely a “down payment.” If the system is to be rapidly built as envisioned, Duffy emphasized that Congress must provide full funding to the Federal Aviation Administration upfront while streamlining the permitting process.
Duffy dismissed the notion of preserving the current system, claiming it was too outdated: “The system we have here? It’s not worth saving.” President Trump supported this sentiment, lauding the potential revolutionary impact on air travel and hinting at future technological advancements possibly diminishing the need for pilots, though he acknowledged, “you always need pilots.”
The proposal has seemingly garnered industry-wide backing, from airline leaders to unions representing controllers and pilots. While private sector involvement in air traffic control has been ruled out, Trump had previously endorsed such privatization during his first administration term.
In response to the Washington crash, Trump committed to resolving what he termed an “old, broken system,” and pledged to address a nationwide air traffic controller shortage. Recent technical malfunctions, notably the Newark, New Jersey airport radar system failure, which caused extensive travel disruptions, reaffirmed this need for systemic upgrades, according to Duffy, and what might repeat nationwide without intervention.