U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy rolled out his plan to build a new air traffic control system.
The release of the plan comes on the heels of several moments over the past month when the Newark International Airport has lost communications between airplanes and air traffic controllers. Duffy said his plan would replace the current system and enhance safety for air travelers while reducing delays.
“Today we are seizing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a brand new, state-of-the-art air traffic control system,” Duffy said. “Decades of neglect have left us with an outdated system that is showing its age.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 American people are counting on us, and we won’t let them down.”
Duffy said the FAA will replace core infrastructure including radar, software, hardware and telecommunications networks to manage modern travel. The plan encompasses four infrastructure components – communications, surveillance, automation, and facilities. As part of the plan, the DOT would focus on replacing antiquated telecommunications with new fiber, wireless and satellite technologies at over 4,600 sites; replacing 618 radars; addressing runway safety through adding Surface Awareness Initiative for airports; building six new air traffic control centers and replacing towers and TRACONS; installing new hardware and software for all air traffic facilities to create a common platform system; and adding 174 new weather stations in Alaska.
Duffy’s plan did not include a price tag or how the government would pay for the plan. The proposed plan would be implemented between 2025 and 2028, according to the summary released on May 8.