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\n <\/picture>US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has revealed that a plan to modernise the country\u2019s ageing and understaffed air traffic control system will be announced next week.<\/p>\n
The initiative aims to revitalise Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) infrastructure with new radar systems, air traffic control terminals, and increased hiring, following recent aviation safety incidents that have raised concerns.<\/p>\n
Duffy has previously stated that he intends to request funding for a multi-year effort to overhaul the system.<\/p>\n
This includes implementing new runway safety technology to replace \u201coutdated\u201d technology such as binoculars for visual checks and floppy disks for data storage.<\/p>\n
Duffy emphasised the need for a swift transition from ageing copper wire telecommunications to modern alternatives such as fibre, wireless, and satellite networks.<\/p>\n
US President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation and is in favour of creating \u201ca state-of-the-art, brand new air control system,\u201d supporting the proposed reforms, DoT said.<\/p>\n
The FAA is currently facing a significant shortage of air traffic controllers with 3,500 fewer controllers than the targeted staffing levels, leading to flight delays and extensive overtime and six-day workweeks for existing staff. <\/p>\n
That\u2019s despite the work of the Biden Administration to hire thousands<\/a> of ATC professionals. <\/p>\n The Government Accountability Office has urged the FAA to take immediate action to address the deteriorating air traffic control systems, noting that one-third of them are unsustainable.<\/p>\n Reports from 2023 highlighted that the FAA\u2019s communication system is severely outdated, with spare parts for many systems becoming increasingly difficult to source.<\/p>\n In March 2024, former US President Joe Biden proposed an $8bn investment over five years to replace or modernise more than 20 outdated air traffic control facilities and 377 critical radar systems.<\/p>\n Last year, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu, Hawaii secured $17m investment from the FAA<\/a> to upgrade fire safety systems.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Email](\"https:\/\/www.airport-technology.com\/wp-content\/themes\/goodlife-wp-B2B\/assets\/images\/newsletter-new.svg\")
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