the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Newark NJ, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean P. Duffy today unveiled a plan to build a brand new, state-of-the-art air traffic control system that will be the envy of the world. By replacing the current, antiquated system, the 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.
“Under President Trump, America is building again. Today we are seizing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a brand new, state-of-the-art air traffic control system,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Decades of neglect have left us with an outdated system that is showing its age.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 unprecedented coalition of support we’ve assembled – from labor to industry – is indicative of just how important it is to this administration to get done what no one else could. The American people are counting on us, and we won’t let them down.”
Brand New Air Traffic Control System
The plan addresses critical safety needs to deliver Americans a state-of-the-art air traffic control system. The 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.
The plan is comprised of four infrastructure components:
- Communications
- Surveillance
- Automation
- Facilities
Critical actions include:
- Replacing antiquated telecommunications: with new fiber, wireless and satellite technologies at over 4,600 sites, 25,000 new radios and 475 new voice switches.
- Replacing 618 radars which have gone past their life cycle.
- Addressing runway safety by increasing the number of airports with Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) to 200.
- Building six new air traffic control centers for the first time since the 1960s and replacing towers and TRACONs.
- Installing new modern hardware and software for all air traffic facilities to create a common platform system throughout towers, TRACONs and centers.
- Addressing the challenges that face Alaska by adding 174 new weather stations.
Duffy previously announced a new package of actions to further supercharge the air traffic controller workforce. The package will allow more of the best and brightest candidates to get into air traffic facilities and on the job faster, as well as increase retention of experienced controllers. Secretary Duffy first launched the supercharge program in February.
“In our first 100 days, this administration has made more progress on addressing the air traffic controller shortage than the last one did in four years.” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “But there’s more work to be done to secure our skies. Today’s actions will supercharge the air traffic controller workforce from both retention and hiring side of the equation – bringing us one step closer to reversing decades of staffing declines.”
The FAA is on track to hire at least 2,000 controllers this year following the March supercharged hiring campaign, which increased the starting salary for Academy trainees by 30 percent. Secretary Duffy streamlined hiring by changing the old 8-step hiring process at the FAA to a 5-step process. This has already shaved five months off the old hiring process, enabling the FAA to refer more than 8,320 candidates to take the aptitude exam, known as the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA).
Thousands of candidates have already taken the ATSA and moved into the next stage of the hiring process. Candidates from the March supercharged hiring campaign who scored the highest on the ATSA are given priority for the Academy. “The supercharge hiring initiative is working,” said Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau. “Less than 45 days after the announcement closed, one of the first applicants already has an Academy start date in early June. This stellar work by our team to accelerate this process is a clear sign that this Administration is leading in a profound way to transform our aviation system.”
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