Video honored for promoting the urgent need to modernize the U.S. air traffic control system
WASHINGTON, April 29, 2026 — The Modern Skies Coalition’s 1980s-themed campaign video has been honored with a Ragan Communications award in the Informational Video category, recognizing outstanding achievement in making complex information clear, engaging and accessible. The award was presented during a ceremony in New York City on April 28.
Originally launched as part of the Coalition’s broader push to modernize the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) system, the 30-second spot uses a nostalgic 1980s theme set to music of that decade to highlight the continued reliance on outdated technologies—such as floppy disks, copper wires and paper strips—in most ATC facilities today. By contrasting retro imagery with modern-day aviation needs, the video educates viewers on the urgency of infrastructure upgrades while keeping the message concise and compelling. The spot aired during key programming on Fox News Channel (“Fox & Friends”) and Fox Business (“Mornings with Maria” and “Sunday Morning Futures”) to reach key Administration officials.
The Coalition complemented these television ads with geotargeted digital placements in Washington, D.C., around the White House and Capitol Hill, as well as at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to coincide with high-profile leadership visits.
On May 8, 2025, more than 50 aviation industry organizations came together to officially unveil the campaign in conjunction with U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s announcement of his ATC modernization plan. The Coalition established a grassroots activation website and a suite of social media channels on X, Facebook and LinkedIn to educate the public and mobilize advocates to press Congress to act. This came at a critical moment, as lawmakers weighed funding legislation in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the campaign emerged as the leading voice pressing for meaningful, bipartisan action.
The award highlights the Coalition’s success in translating a highly technical policy issue into a format that resonates with policymakers and the public alike, reinforcing the critical need for Congress to provide additional funding to modernize ATC systems and ensure a safer, more efficient National Airspace System.
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