Enhancements needed in air traffic control systems to mitigate issues similar to Newark Airport, authorities claim.
Updating on Ongoing Issues at Newark Airport and Air Traffic Control Overhaul Proposal
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is addressing the issues that caused flight disruptions at New Jersey's busiest airport back in the spring, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy advocating for a nationwide overhaul of the air traffic control system. This modernization project, massively expensive but necessary according to Duffy, may prevent similar situations nationwide.
During a recent update, Duffy highlighted the efforts being made to resolve Newark Liberty International Airport's issues, which have seen considerable improvement in the past few weeks as airlines reduced their flights. The secretary emphasized these incidences underscore the necessity for the outdated system's upgrade.
While still silent on the exact cost of this wide-ranging air traffic control overhaul, Duffy acknowledged that the $12.5 billion included in the House's version of President Trump's bill falls short, with the project requiring "tens of billions of dollars."
The FAA's ongoing repair and staffing efforts to eliminate the problems affecting Newark Airport include training and certifying more controllers. Currently, there are additional experienced controllers in training, with hopes of their certification between now and October.
The FAA expects to increase Newark's daily flights once a runway construction project is completed in mid-June, also around the time when some controllers on trauma leave might return. Further improvements are planned on the telecommunications infrastructure, with a focus on the lines between New York and the Newark airport.
Another issue the FAA is addressing is the telecommunications problems, with Verizon installing a new fiber optic line between Philadelphia and New York over the past month. The administration hopes to test this line thoroughly before switching over, with the upgrade expected to be available in July.
Secretary Duffy advises pilots to prepare for potential outages by brushing up on their handling procedures, as such occurrences can still happen, as seen in recent instances in Denver and, unfortunately, Last year at the Newark Airport. The FAA is commited to implementing redundancy measures to ensure safety during such events.
Industry leaders across transportation and aviation sectors are closely monitoring the ongoing developments at Newark Airport in the wake of the air traffic control issues. The proposed finance allocation for air traffic control modernization, although currently estimated to be tens of billions of dollars, underscores the significance of this industry-wide shift.
