One year ago, the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill marked a historic moment for aviation by providing a $12.5 billion down payment to modernize the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) system. It was a long-overdue investment in the technology, infrastructure and workforce that keep America’s skies safe and efficient every day.
The funding is helping replace decades-old equipment, modernize critical facilities and strengthen the National Airspace System (NAS) so it can safely accommodate growing demand while supporting the future of aviation innovation. While there is more work ahead, meaningful progress is already underway.
Working alongside Transportation Secretary Duffy, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and industry partners, the Modern Skies Coalition continues to build on this momentum to ensure the United States remains the global leader in aviation safety, efficiency and innovation.
A major milestone came with the selection of Peraton as the system integrator responsible for coordinating the nation’s ATC modernization efforts. The FAA also launched its Modern Skies dashboard, providing the public with transparent, real-time updates on the progress of this historic undertaking.
To date, the modernization efforts include:
- 2,730 of 5,170 telecommunications connections replaced
- 83 of 220 surface awareness initiatives installed
- 307 of 1,581 radio sites converted
- 17 of 89 electronic flight strips implemented
- 74 of 450 IP voice switches installed
- 4 of 612 new radar systems deployed
These milestones represent tangible progress toward replacing aging infrastructure with modern, resilient systems that will enhance safety, improve efficiency and better serve the millions of passengers and businesses that rely on air travel every day.
As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Modern Skies Coalition is proud to stand alongside government and industry partners who are delivering the next generation of America’s aviation system. The work is well underway, but it is far from finished. The Modern Skies Coalition remains committed to supporting the continued investments and collaboration necessary to complete this modernization effort and build an air traffic control system that better serves the traveling public, strengthens our economy and supports the future of flight.