Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) has welcomed Secretary Sean Duffy’s proposal to improve aviation safety with the overhaul of America’s aging air traffic control system.
On behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Duffy is planning to build a brand new, state-of-the-art air traffic control (ATC) system “that will be the envy of the world.”
Stating that “decades of neglect have left [the US] with an outdated system that is showing its age,” Duffy emphasised that building a new system is “an economic and national security necessity, and the time to fit it is now.”
The plans include replacing core infrastructure including antiquated telecommunications at over 4,600 sites, 25,000 radios and 618 radars. Other critical actions under Duffy’s plan include addressing runway safety, building six new ATC centres and replacing towers and TRACONs, installing new modern hardware and software for all air traffic facilities and addressing the challenges that face Alaska by adding 174 new weather stations.
ACI-NA’s President and CEO, Kevin Burke, underlined that “safety in air travel is paramount in the sky and on the ground.” The association, he added, will work with Duffy and Congress to develop a comprehensive plan that will ensure air traffic controllers have a system they can rely on and that will improve aviation safety.
“Whether it is updating our antiquated air traffic control system or clearing the backlog of on-airport safety projects, we applaud the steps President Trump, Secretary Duffy and Congress are taking to prioritise safety, implementing a comprehensive plan will require strong collaboration among all aviation stakeholders, and airports look forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work.”
