DOT Unveils Comprehensive Three-Year Plan to Overhaul U.S. Air Traffic System

A lack of funding for the U.S.’s aging air traffic system is putting the travel industry at risk, and a long-awaited plan to finally upgrade that system was revealed on Thursday as Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Duffy issued a wide-ranging, three-year proposal to overhaul the infrastructure behind U.S. air traffic operations.

That includes physical equipment such as ground radar sensors on tarmacs, new air traffic control towers, new radio and surveillance systems, and many of the other tools and technologies the system is built on. The goal would be to build a “state-of-the-art ATC system” and stop disruptions like those that have been happening at Newark Liberty (EWR) over the past week.

Aside from infrastructure, staffing is another major focus of the plan, which calls for hiring 2,000 new controllers in the near term, offering bonuses of up to 20% of salary to keep experienced controllers from retiring, and making it easier to recruit new hires from military programs and aviation colleges. Right now, the FAA is short about 3,500 controllers nationwide.

The plan, which has been endorsed by President Trump, now needs approval by Congress. Lawmakers are likely to ask about the cost of the proposal, which Duffy didn’t reveal, though some experts estimate it could cost close to $20 billion. The proposal calls for $12.5 billion upfront to get started on the upgrades, which Congress will also have to approve.

As part of the plan, Duffy also outlined some of the aging technology still in use today, including radar systems that are decades old and air traffic control towers nearing the end of their life spans:

“Without modernization efforts – including upgraded technology, improved air traffic management, and enhanced safety measures – the risk of system failures, disruptions, and security vulnerabilities will only increase,” Duffy said in the proposal.

The U.S. Travel Association has long pushed for upgrades to the air traffic control system in the U.S., and applauded the proposal on Thursday afternoon.

“We commend Secretary Duffy for his leadership and vision in tackling the urgent needs of our air traffic control system,” said Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Prior to President Trump’s administration, America’s leadership too often focused on fines and fees when it came to air travel. What Secretary Duffy announced today will benefit travelers and the broader U.S. economy, and it’s the type of leadership that America’s travel industry has been calling for.”