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The Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) has issued a statement on X, urging policymakers to prioritize the ongoing modernization of air traffic control (ATC) systems. The association described current funding as progress but insufficient without sustained action.
According to ALPA and supporting industry commentary, the U.S. ATC system relies on outdated infrastructure that has been patched over time rather than comprehensively overhauled. ALPA asserts that NextGen—the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) modernization program—has been treated as "past-gen," meaning incremental improvements have fallen short of a full systems upgrade. This situation, industry groups argue, has left the system vulnerable and underprepared for modern safety and capacity demands.
Congress has approved $12.5 billion in new funding toward ATC modernization efforts, highlighting growing legislative awareness of the problem. ALPA lauded this allocation as a step forward but emphasized that a one-time infusion cannot substitute for sustained multi-year support. Without ongoing funding cycles and legislative commitment, they warn the legacy architecture will continue to degrade and modernization goals remain unattainable.
