US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced a plan to build a new, state-of-the-art US air traffic control system that he hopes will be ‘the envy of the world’.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently facing a rapidly growing, complex and demanding aviation sector, with commercial air travel returning to pre C-19, and has been facing increased criticism from airlines and travellers alike. “By replacing the current, antiquated system, the [US] FAA will enhance safety in the sky, reduce delays, and unlock the future of air travel. This plan also ensures hard-working air traffic controllers have a system they can rely on and one they deserve,” he adds.
The new system, due for completion in 2028, is said to be backed by an unprecedented coalition of support. Under the roll-out the US FAA will replace core infrastructure including radar, software, hardware and telecommunications networks to manage modern travel. “We have a system that is built for the past, we are proposing a system built for the future. The agency will equip facilities with better technology to reduce outages, improve efficiency, and reinforce safety,” says Duffy in a statement. The plan covers communications, surveillance, automation and facilities. Antiquated telecommunications will be replaced by new fibre, wireless and satellite technologies; 618 radars will be replaced, along with increased runway safety measures; six new air traffic control centres will be built and towers replaced, new software and hardware rolled out; and 174 weather stations will be added in Alaska.
