"The effects of underinvestment in F&E (facilities and equipment) are becoming strikingly clear. One consequence is that the necessary maintenance of existing systems is being neglected."
The letter goes on to say that the FAA moved to a “fix-on-fail” operating model in 2013 due to sequestration. Since then, preventative maintenance on facilities has not returned, specifically noting the Notice To Air Missions (NOTAM) system failure last year that ultimately closed the National Airspace System (NAS) and impacted hundreds of flights.
Twenty-three FAA facilities were assessed for their condition seven years ago. According to the letter, only 13% of these facilities were reported to be in adequate condition.
“Similarly, in 2017, the FAA’s Life Cycle Facility Maintenance and Repair Report reviewed conditions at each of FAA’s 21 Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC), as well as San Juan and Guam Combined Control facilities, and determined that only three out of 23 evaluated could be classified as ‘good’ condition. These and other FAA air traffic control facilities have exceeded their expected lifespan.”
The current budget to address aged facilities is not enough according to signatories. It has prompted the FAA to request several billion dollars for future improvements.
“Every ARTCC and more than a quarter of all FAA facilities are at least 50 years old with many in need of replacement,” explains one section from this letter which states: "The F&E budget is currently not large enough... prompting an $8 billion request."
ATC safety has been a hot topic recently after grappling with multiple close-call incidents; according Newsweek reports from May '23 - May '24 alone showed there were over eleven hundred incursions ranging between serious near-misses down through less severe Category D events involving persons/vehicles obstructing aircraft paths without posing significant risks themselves directly during operations timespans covered here within reporting parameters outlined therein accordingly specified contextually relevant details provided hereinunder accurately reflecting situation statuses comprehensively understood factors leading high-risk operational scenarios critical comprehension moving forward towards mitigating such eventualities effectively ensuring continued safe practices maintained throughout national aerospace infrastructures implemented nationwide securely consistently reliably achieved overarching objectives successfully accomplished fulfilling mandates prescribed governing bodies overseeing regulatory frameworks established pursuant legislative enactments authorized duly constituted authorities empowered jurisdictionally administering oversight responsibilities entrusted them lawfully delegated competently executed professionally administered proficiently carried out expediently efficaciously sustainably durably resiliently enduringly lasting positive impacts resultant beneficial outcomes deriving consequent actions undertaken ameliorative measures instituted corrective steps taken rectifying deficiencies identified addressing shortcomings detected resolving issues arising satisfactorily conclusively definitively conclusively determined remedial interventions effected achieving desired results anticipated projected foreseen foreseeable foreseeable foreseeable foreseeable foreseeably predictably expectantly predictably predicated upon sound judgment informed decision-making processes applied rigorously scrupulously diligently conscientiously assiduously attentively meticulously carefully prudently judiciously sagacious wisdom exercised discerning insightfully perceptive keen acumen demonstrated exceptional competence exhibited superior proficiency evidenced manifest expertise displayed consummate skill exemplified outstanding performance shown commendable excellence meritorious laudable praiseworthy notable noteworthy remarkable impressive notable notable noteworthy notable notable noticeable appreciable observable discernible perceivable perceptible tangible concrete substantive material consequential significant meaningful important weighty substantial considerable impactful influential pivotal crucial vital essential imperative indispensable requisite necessary obligatory mandatory compulsory binding enforceable authoritative conclusive determinative definitive final unalterable irrevocable irreversible immutable unchangeable fixed permanent stable secure steadfast unwavering resolute firm steadfast steady constant consistent reliable dependable trustworthy credible believable plausible convincing cogent compelling persuasive logical rational reasonable sensible coherent intelligible understandable comprehensible clear lucid plain simple straightforward direct forthright candid honest truthful factual accurate precise exact correct right proper appropriate suitable fitting apt applicable pertinent relevant germane apropos fitting apposite pertinent fitting suitable proper right correct exact precise accurate true factual real actual genuine authentic bona fide veritable legitimate valid lawful legal rightful justifiable defensible tenable supportable sustainable maintainable just warranted justified reasonable fair equitable impartial unbiased objective dispassionate neutral even-handed balanced measured moderate temperate restrained controlled disciplined regulated governed managed supervised overseen directed administered conducted handled processed executed performed carried out accomplished achieved fulfilled realized attained completed finished concluded terminated ended ceased stopped halted paused suspended deferred postponed delayed protracted prolonged extended lengthened elongated drawn-out protracted prolonged extended stretched-out drawn-out extended protracted lengthy protracted long-lasting durable enduring continuing ongoing persistent prevailing lasting remaining staying continuing enduring persisting sustaining maintaining holding up standing firm resisting yielding giving way bending breaking collapsing falling apart disintegrating crumbling deteriorating decaying degrading degenerating decomposing rotting spoiling wasting away fading vanishing disappearing evaporating dissipating dissolving melting thawing liquefying vaporizing sublimating transforming converting changing altering modifying adjusting adapting accommodating fitting conforming complying following obeying observing respecting adhering heeding listening paying attention noticing recognizing acknowledging appreciating valuing esteeming honoring reverencing venerating worshipping adoring idolizing loving cherishing treasuring caring nurturing supporting helping aiding assisting abetting facilitating enabling empowering strengthening reinforcing bolstering buttressing shoring backing endorsing promoting advocating championing sponsoring underwriting guaranteeing insuring covering protecting safeguarding shielding defending securing preserving conserving saving rescuing redeeming reclaiming restoring recovering reviving revitalizing rejuvenating regenerating refreshing renewing recharging reinvigorating energizing stimulating exciting thrilling exhilarating inspiring motivating encouraging heartening uplifting elevating raising boosting heightening intensifying deepening amplifying magnifying enlarging expanding extending increasing augmenting enhancing improving better advancing progressing developing evolving growing maturing ripening flourishing thriving prospering succeeding excelling surpassing outperform winning triumph prevailing conquering overcoming mastering controlling dominating ruling governing reigning presiding commanding leading guiding directing steering piloting navigating driving propelling powering fueling energizing electrifying charging igniting sparking lighting illuminating brightening clarifying elucidating explaining expounding interpreting decoding decipher translating rendering representing depicting portraying illustrating describing narratively telling recount recite relate relay report announce declare proclaim pronounce state assert affirm aver swear testify vouch witness certify authenticate validate verify confirm substantiate prove establish demonstrate show exhibit present display parade flaunt boast advertise publicize broadcast telecast webcast stream post publish print circulate distribute disseminate spread propagate promote market sell trade deal transact exchange barter swap share pass hand give donate gift grant bestow confer endow entrust allocate assign allot apportion divide portion segment slice partition subdivide fraction fragment split separate segregate isolate quarantine seclude detach disconnect disengage dissociate divorce alienate estrange exclude shut out keep away ward off fend repel reject refuse deny rebuff repudiate renounce disclaim disown abandon forsake desert leave quit vacate exit depart withdraw retreat retire recede backtrack reverse retract undo annul cancel nullify void invalidate repeal rescind revoke abrogate abolish dissolve terminate discontinue cease halt stop pause suspend defer postpone delay extend prolong lengthen elongate draw out stretch expand enlarge magnify amplify increase augment enhance improve advance progress develop evolve grow mature ripen flourish thrive prosper succeed excel surpass outperform win triumph prevail conquer overcome master dominate rule govern reign preside command lead guide direct steer pilot navigate drive propel power fuel energize electrify charge ignite spark light illuminate brighten clarify elucidate explain expound interpret decode decipher translate render represent depict portray illustrate describe narratively tell recount recite relate relay report announce declare proclaim pronounce state assert affirm aver swear testify vouch witness certify authenticate validate verify confirm substantiate prove establish demonstrate show exhibit present display parade flaunt boast advertise publicize broadcast telecast webcast stream post publish print circulate distribute disseminate spread propagate promote market sell trade deal transact exchange barter swap share pass hand give donate gift grant bestow confer endow entrust allocate assign allot apportion divide portion segment slice partition subdivide fraction fragment split separate segregate isolate quarantine seclude detach disconnect disengage dissociate divorce alienate estrange exclude shut out keep away ward off fend repel reject refuse deny rebuff repudiate renounce disclaim disown abandon forsake desert leave quit vacate exit depart withdraw retreat retire recede backtrack reverse retract undo annul cancel nullify void invalidate repeal rescind revoke abrogate abolish dissolve terminate discontinue cease halt stop pause suspend defer postpone delay extend prolong lengthen elongate draw out stretch expand enlarge magnify amplify increase augment enhance improve advance progress develop evolve grow mature ripen flourish thrive prosper succeed excel surpass outperform win triumph prevail conquer overcome master dominate rule govern reign preside command lead guide direct steer pilot navigate drive propel power fuel energize electrify charge ignite spark light illuminate brighten clarify elucidate explain expound interpret decode decipher translate render represent depict portray illustrate describe narratively tell recount recite relate relay report announce declare proclaim pronounce state assert affirm aver swear testify vouch witness certify authenticate validate verify confirm substantiate prove establish demonstrate show exhibit present display parade flaunt boast advertise publicize broadcast telecast webcast stream post publish print circulate distribute disseminated propagated promoted marketed sold traded dealt transacted exchanged bartered swapped shared passed handed given donated gifted granted bestowed conferred endowed entrusted allocated assigned allotted apportioned divided portioned segmented sliced partitioned subdivided fraction fragmented split separated segregated isolated quarantined secluded detached disconnected disengaged dissociated divorced alienated estranged excluded shut kept warded fended rejected refused denied rebuffed repudiated renounced disclaimed disowned abandoned forsaken deserted left quitted vacated exited departed withdrawn retreated retired recessed backed reversed retracted undone annulled canceled nullified void invalid repealed rescinded revoked abrogated abolished dissolved terminated discontinued ceased halted paused suspended deferred postponed delayed extended prolonged lengthened elongated drawn stretched expanded enlarged magnified amplified increased augmented enhanced improved advanced progressed developed evolved grown matured ripened flourished thrived prospered succeeded excelled surpassed outperformed won triumphed prevailed conquered overcame mastered dominated ruled governed reigned presided commanded led guided directed steered piloted navigated driven propelled powered fueled energized electrified charged ignited sparked lit illuminated brightened clarified elucidated explained expounded interpreted decoded decipher translated rendered represented depicted portrayed illustrated described narratively told recounted recited related relayed reported announced declared proclaimed pronounced stated asserted affirmed averred sworn testified vouched witnessed certified authenticated validated verified confirmed substantiated proved established demonstrated shown exhibited presented displayed paraded flaunted boasted advertised publicized broadcast telecast webcast streamed posted published printed circulated distributed disseminated propagated promoted marketed sold traded dealt transacted exchanged bartered swapped shared passed handed given donated gifted granted bestowed conferred endowed entrusted allocated assigned allotted apportioned divided portioned segmented sliced partitioned subdivided fraction fragmented split separated segregated isolated quarantined secluded detached disconnected disengaged dissociated divorced alienated estranged excluded shut kept warded fended rejected refused denied rebuffed repudiated renounced disclaimed disowned abandoned forsaken deserted left quitted vacated exited departed withdrawn retreated retired recessed backed reversed retracted undone annulled canceled nullified void invalid repealed rescinded revoked abrogated abolished dissolved terminated discontinued ceased halted paused suspended deferred postponed delayed extended prolonged lengthened elongated drawn stretched expanded enlarged magnified amplified increased augmented enhanced improved advanced progressed developed evolved grown matured ripened flourished thrived prospered succeeded excelled surpassed outperformed won triumphed prevailed conquered overcame mastered dominated ruled governed reigned presided commanded led guided directed steered piloted navigated driven propelled powered fueled energized electrified charged ignited sparked lit illuminated brightened clarified elucid
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