Quantcast

US DOT confirms upcoming plan for overhaul of air traffic control system

Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
Brazilian airline Azul to go 'back to basics' after challenging 2024
Airlines cancel flights as air travel to ‘grind to complete halt’ this week ahead of major strike action in Europe
Dramatic moment American Airlines plane diverted to Rome is escorted by fighter jets after mid-air bomb threat
Jetstar Faces Major Backlash as Nationwide System Outage Causes Travel Chaos, Stranding Passengers and Disrupting Flights Across the Australian Airline Industry
Sudden oil supply outages creating turbulence for airline industry
Southwest's layoffs dent its worker-first culture
Abu Dhabi's long-haul carrier Etihad Airways sees record $476 million profit in 2024
Jet2 warns of profits squeeze from rising costs and late bookings
Southwest bends further to activist shareholder Elliott's demands
US DOT confirms upcoming plan for overhaul of air traffic control system
Policy
Webp received 643608184942402
Sean Duffy United States Secretary of Transportation | Official Website

The new United States Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, is moving forward with a clear priority of modernizing the United States’ air traffic control system. According to an interview given to Fox News, Secretary Duffy plans to announce the details and funding next week – with support from airline industry leaders from both a pilot’s union and management.

“Top technology that''s going to be deployed”

First, Secretary Duffy shared with Fox News’ Fox and Friends morning talk show on March 19 why his sense of urgency,

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

“It''s not that we don''t know that we''ve had a problem with air traffic control, but it takes too long. And then technology changes, money changes, administrations change. So we have to do this really fast. And so the Congress has to give us all the money up front. ”

Secretary Duffy also made his case to NBC News, making clear the need for large sums of money appropriated from Congress for fast action:

What does Secretary Duffy want “all the money up front” for? Try, “Top technology that''s going to be deployed” like:

- Replacing copper cables with fiber

- Replacing radars, “some of the newest models that we have date back to like 1982”

- “Brand new terminals for air traffic controllers”

- “We''re going to have sensors on runways” for when air traffic controllers cannot see the entire airport to help track aircraft.

All of this technology will work with the Runway Incursion Devices (RID) being installed across 74 airports in the US. The FAA described the RID as a memory aid that indicates whether a runway and/or taxiway is occupied by a vehicle or aircraft or closed altogether. This should help reduce "near miss" incidents to prevent two aircraft colliding on the runway or taxiway.

Related

FAA Will Install Runway Incursion System At 74 Airports

The system is already online at four airports, including Austin-Bergstrom, Denver-Centennial, Kansas City-Downton, and Portland International.

Posts2

Secretary Duffy has also recruited some of Elon Musk’s SpaceX engineers to help develop plans for the above. Simple Flying has already reported on that aspect.

Related

Elon Musk''s SpaceX Team Will Visit FAA Air Traffic Control Command Center

Both Sean Duffy and Elon Musk said that SpaceX, and not the DOGE, will visit the FAA''s center in Virginia.

Posts8

But few are writing about what could replace 1960s-1980s radar. Let''s fix that.

Better radars are available

Additionally, radars from 1982 and older are not just at least 42-43 years old – but lack today’s technology advancements like RTX Corporation''s Raytheon’s GhostEye MR which includes “active electronically scanned array or AESA – boosting detection targeting tracking – and military-grade gallium nitride or GaN strengthening radar signal enhancing sensitivity longer range higher resolution increased capacity.” Another potential solution is Raytheon’s Skyler capable becoming networked system AESA radars detecting low flying aircraft plus drones simultaneously providing weather surveillance leaping new era air traffic control more.

Rising crisis in US Air Traffic Control

There has been a rising crisis in US Air Traffic Control for some time As Capt Jason Ambrosi president Air Line Pilots Association Int’l ALPA described Decem- ber Senate Commerce Science Transportation Aviation Safety Subcommittee;

"We have seen in several near-miss incidents including particularly close call Austin February last year pilots final line defense ensuring safety aviation operators system pilots vested interest Federal Aviation Administration sus- taining legacy systems advancing technological infrastructure improvements en- suring National Airspace System remains safe efficient However system poten- tial being fully realized part many airliners properly equipped take advantage updated capabilities Resources kept inflation effectively require agency prio- ritize sustainment detriment modernization infrastructure needs "

These near-miss incidents continued occur recent tragedy over Potomac River Southwest Airlines Boeing San Diego last October:

Recently CNBC Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan shared view Trump Administra- tion needed "modernization" decades Partially improve airspace productivity

These few examples airline industry leadership speaking insisting investment into air traffic controlAirlines For America recently called rapid modernization air traffic controlBottom line Clear mandate modernizing air traffic control Additionally Secre- tary Duffy shared March NTSB Preliminary Report January mid-air collision Ame- rican Eagle CRJ final Reagan National Airport Army Blackhawk low-fly route:"I think honor them pay forward fixing system making better making work "Secretary Duffy clear conference modernization happen quickly alongside tech- nology keeping commercial aviation safe Ultimately give Secretary last word"We brand new system best best state art I think America We deserve putting everything give America best possible "The plan details expected week

Organizations Included in this History
More News

United Airlines' technicians have rejected a proposal to outsource work to China, according to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).

Mar 29, 2025

KLM, a major foreign network carrier, is expanding its operations with a significant increase in its service to UK airports.

Mar 29, 2025

Denver Air Connection is preparing to take over the regional air service between Denver and Pueblo, succeeding Southern Airways Express.

Mar 29, 2025

Recent data from the travel data company OAG has indicated a significant decline in forward bookings between the United States and Canada.

Mar 29, 2025

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) has shelved plans for a parallel runway until at least the early 2040s, despite its status as the United States' second busiest single-runway airport.

Mar 29, 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo has acquired a new Gulfstream G650 private jet, valued at $73 million.

Mar 29, 2025