The Trump administration is preparing to announce a major overhaul of the US air traffic control system “in the next couple days,” according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, as per Bloomberg.
The announcement comes after weeks of increasing scrutiny regarding the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) efforts to modernize the system, which manages approximately 45,000 flights daily, carrying about 2.9 million passengers.
Duffy revealed the plan on Wednesday during an interview with Fox News, outlining key changes including a transition from copper communications infrastructure to fiber optic lines, along with the implementation of new radar systems and terminals for air traffic controllers.
Duffy said that the issues plaguing the current air traffic control system are well-known, but the upgrade process is often slow and outpaced by technological advancements. He emphasized the need for Congress to provide “all the money up front” to facilitate a rapid and comprehensive modernization effort.
The announcement follows reports of the FAA’s ongoing efforts to explore alternative solutions for system improvements. Last month, Bloomberg reported that the FAA began testing Starlink satellite internet terminals from SpaceX, owned by Trump adviser Elon Musk, in select areas of the FAA’s system
Separately, Duffy expressed concerns last week regarding Verizon Communications Inc.’s progress on a $2.4 billion, 15-year contract to upgrade the FAA’s telecommunications network, which supports the national airspace system. Bloomberg News reported in February that the FAA was considering potentially canceling the deal due to slow progress, although no final decision has been made. Duffy stated that Verizon was “not moving fast enough” on the project.
