U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has introduced a plan to develop a new air traffic control system aimed at improving safety and reducing delays in air travel. This initiative seeks to replace the current outdated system, enhancing both economic and national security aspects.
“Under President Trump, America is building again. Today we are seizing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a brand new, state-of-the-art air traffic control system,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Decades of neglect have left us with an outdated system that is showing its age. Building this new system is an economic and national security necessity, and the time to fix it is now. The unprecedented coalition of support we’ve assembled – from labor to industry – is indicative of just how important it is to this administration to get done what no one else could. The American people are counting on us, and we won’t let them down.”
The plan aims to replace core infrastructure elements such as radar, software, hardware, and telecommunications networks with advanced technology designed for modern travel needs. It will equip facilities with better technology to minimize outages and improve efficiency while reinforcing safety measures.
Key components of the infrastructure overhaul include communications, surveillance, automation, and facilities enhancements:
- Replacement of old telecommunications systems with fiber, wireless, and satellite technologies across more than 4,600 sites.
- Installation of 25,000 new radios and 475 voice switches.
- Replacement of 618 aging radars.
- Expansion of the Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) to 200 airports for improved runway safety.
- Construction of six new air traffic control centers for the first time since the 1960s along with replacement towers and TRACONs.
- Implementation of modern hardware and software in all air traffic facilities for a unified platform throughout towers, TRACONs, and centers.
- Addition of 174 weather stations in Alaska to address regional challenges.
The proposal represents a significant investment in upgrading aviation infrastructure in order to meet future demands effectively.
