Upgrading our ATC system requires significant federal investment, as safety deserves nothing less.
Replacing the antiquated technology that runs our ATC system will require significant investment from the federal government, but upholding the highest standards of safety for all who use our nation’s airspace deserves nothing less.
Divesting old and outdated technologies and facilities will reduce costs and inefficiencies, while strengthening American competitiveness.
It is paramount that Congress, the administration and the aviation community come together and embrace bold and decisive action to ensure that we do not squander this opportunity to enhance aviation safety.
We need new telecom, we're going to put in new radar. There are new flight paths and new technology that we can deploy that will not just make it safer to travel but also make it more efficient.
U.S. Transportation Secretary
The $12.5 billion included in the reconciliation bill for modernizing the system is a significant step forward, but Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has accurately called it a "down payment" on the full investment required. Congress and the FAA must work together to close dangerous gaps in our airspace, modernize our infrastructure, and ensure such a tragedy never happens again.
President of Air Line Pilots Association, International
Every dollar spent on our transportation systems today helps avoid costlier problems down the road. However, we must focus on maximizing taxpayer dollars by modernizing our aging infrastructure, streamlining processes, and supercharging hiring methods
Congresswoman (Okla.)
AOPA is a member of the Modern Skies Coalition, which represents all sectors of the aviation industry including airlines, general aviation, airports, labor and manufacturers. The coalition strongly supports this modernization effort, and we look forward to collaborating with the Committee, Congress and the Administration to make this proposal a reality.
President and CEO, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
These air traffic controllers are incredibly talented. In my opinion. They are heroes. They and they work really hard to ensure the safety of all people. But I think I speak for a lot of folks when I say the biggest priority as we implement the FAA reauthorization is to follow through on our promises to build and support our workforce, ensuring people know what their roles are, and a safe experience for all passengers.
Congressman (California)
The entirety of the aviation industry, including airlines, general aviation, airports and labor has come together, through the Modern Skies Coalition, in support of the ATC modernization plan. Not since the establishment of the Airport & Airway Trust Fund in 1970 has the entire aviation industry been this united and focused in its support for major investment in our air transportation system.
President and CEO, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)
These issues require a complete and pressing overhaul of our nation's air traffic system. I don't mean an upgrade—I mean a bold effort to rebuild from the ground up by updating our technology and revitalizing our air traffic control system altogether.
Former U.S. Transportation Secretary
We have the world's safest aviation system, the world's safest, and we need to keep it that way, but we also need to have the world's most efficient and modern air traffic control system. You deserve that, and the American people deserve that.
CEO, Southwest Airlines
Secretary Duffy's comprehensive initiative, focused on modernizing outdated technology and replacing and repairing aging facilities, coupled with his commitment to aggressively address the air traffic control shortage, reflects the kind of leadership and long-term vision the national airspace system urgently needs. It's the right vision, and now is the right time.
Eastern Regional Vice President, National Air Traffic Controllers Association
At the FAA, the safety of the traveling public and the people that work within that system remain the highest focus for us. While air travel remains the safest form of transportation, unless we take bold action now, we will continue to see delays and disruptions.
Acting FAA Administrator
We've talked about how this effort sometimes spans administrations. We don't want the effort to span generations. We need to get moving on this sooner rather than later, including any new investments and policy reforms that build on the law to modernize the nation's ATC infrastructure and growing as well the aviation safety workforce.
Congressman (Washington)
We have the safest aviation system in the world, and it has never been safer, but that doesn't mean that it can't be safer. It's not as safe as it can be, and we owe it all to all of us who utilize this national airspace system to make it as safe as it can be and to invest in the technology it requires to achieve that.
President & CEO, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
The technology that we use to track our teenagers is more advanced than what we give to our air traffic controllers. That is literally insane. We need to fix that. We need better technology, we need better facilities, and we need more controllers.
President & CEO, American Association of Airport Executives
We're going to enhance our bandwidth, our connectivity. We're going to enhance situational awareness. We're going to build on a foundation, and we're going to lead in a distinctly American way.
President & CEO, National Business Aviation Association
“I can assure you that modernizing the United States' national airspace system is a critical enabler to so much more. Since 1915, in the establishment of the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics, this nation has led in aviation. We know this industry connects, it protects, it provides. You think about people and continents. You think about national defense. You think about humanitarian relief and peacekeeping operations around the world. You think about, yes, global trade, global commerce, and the well-paying jobs that it provides. None of this is possible for us to continue without the nation's airspace system and a safe air traffic control system.”
CEO, Boeing Global Services
We're going to go from copper lines to fiber lines. We're going to have—our radar. Some of the newest models that we have date back to like 1982. We're going to have brand new radar, brand new terminals for our air traffic controllers. We'll have sensors on runways. So they won't have to stand out in towers and look with binoculars.
U.S. Transportation Secretary
Now, it is time for the administration to put these words into action and, with strong congressional support, create an air traffic control system that we can be proud of.
former COO of FAA
Secretary Duffy is taking absolutely the right approach. It's time to move forward, it's time to move forward in a big way. This is something that's already been articulated by the President. So let's do it...Let's forget name calling, let's get this done and make our system the best that it can be.
Fmr. Acting FAA Administrator
We've gone months with about half of the number of air traffic controllers that the FAA says we should have here, and so those who are there are under mandatory overtime, long, stressful hours, overworked and understaffed.
Congressman (Austin, TX)
One of the things I’ve testified both before the House and before the Senate, that says the FAA oversees systems of systems and facilities that are between 40 and 60 years old.
Fmr. Acting FAA Administrator
“The Modern Skies Coalition strongly endorses the Air Traffic Control modernization proposal from the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to fund critical investments in the air traffic control system’s technology, infrastructure and workforce, ensuring the United States remains the gold standard of aviation safety.
As stakeholders from across the aviation industry, we have sounded the alarm for decades about the challenges created by aging technology and infrastructure, as well as the controller and technician staffing shortages. We appreciate the hard work of Chairman Sam Graves and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to address these chronic problems which builds on their work in the 2024 FAA Reauthorization law. The Committee’s approach is a much needed downpayment on achieving these benefits for the Americans who fly and ship goods every day. We look forward to working with policymakers to augment this legislation based on a comprehensive proposal from the Department of Transportation to increase investments in these key areas and implement procurement reform that ensures performance and accountability.
We urge the House to pass these provisions and will continue our engagement with the Senate as they look to work on this effort as well, ensuring these critical issues are addressed and sent to the President for his signature.”
