On my first day as transportation secretary in January, a tragic collision between a commercial jet and an Army helicopter over Washington D.C. claimed 67 lives. The image of that plane from Wichita descending into Reagan National Airport was a stark reminder of the stakes for those responsible for air safety. Dozens of passengers were just minutes away from landing safely when they plunged into the Potomac in a preventable catastrophe.
Recently, 30-second system outages at Newark Airport’s air traffic control tower disrupted communication with aircraft, blanked out controllers’ screens, and slowed air traffic. Flight schedules were thrown into chaos, and several controllers took trauma leave. In response, airlines have reduced flights through Newark. This preventable crisis is unacceptable.
Let me be clear: air travel remains safe. I fly through Newark regularly and will continue to do so. Our current air traffic control system, though old, is functional. But President Donald Trump and I are committed to introducing a golden age of travel by making everyday travel safer, smoother, and more affordable. We will ensure preventable outages no longer disrupt national flight schedules.
The previous administration neglected the air traffic control system, leaving it plagued by decades-old issues. The Newark incident reflects this bureaucratic inaction. Our system hasn’t seen major updates in years because its complexity deterred past leaders. But the Trump administration isn’t afraid to tackle tough challenges. The Reagan airport tragedy last winter showed us the cost of inaction.
When I became secretary and started looking under the hood, I was shocked to find 1960s technology throughout our air traffic system—floppy disks, copper wires, and ancient radar designed for propeller planes. The equipment looks like it came out of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. It may as well be a duct-taped flip phone on top of a fax machine glued to a VCR. When the equipment breaks down, controllers need to shop on eBay or RadioShack to replace it. It’s that old.
Today’s skies are busier than ever, with more advanced aircraft, drones, air taxis, and commercial spacecraft pushing the boundaries of aviation. The systems of the past can’t handle the flights of the future.
Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Thanks to President Trump, we’re seizing this opportunity to build a brand-new, state-of-the-art air traffic control system designed to last. We’re moving airports into a new era of innovation and reliability.
Our plan includes equipping airports with fiber optics and satellite technology to give controllers the best tools for their critical work. These upgrades will minimize outages, boost efficiency, and enhance runway safety. We’re rebuilding the oldest air traffic towers and centers—the first new towers since 1967. We propose constructing six new air traffic centers and 16 new towers and Terminal Radar Approach Control facilities.
We’re also replacing the core infrastructure of air traffic control. Radar, software, hardware, and telecommunications networks will be modernized to meet today’s demands. Current software, dating back to the 1990s and early 2000s, is reliable but inefficient and cannot be updated to support new technologies. It’s time for a complete transformation.
America has a proud history in aviation. From the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk to the introduction of jet travel and commercial spaceflight, the U.S. has been on the leading edge of innovation. We’ve shown the world what’s possible with American ingenuity. While the prior administration focused on terminology like “cockpit” and “airmen,” we’re prioritizing cutting-edge tools to ensure safety and efficiency.
America is building again. We’re building new roads and bridges. We’re building modern ships and computer chips. At the Department of Transportation, I’m clearing the backlog and doing things faster than the last guys thought possible, and that includes a long-overdue overhaul of our air traffic control system.
This ambitious project will require congressional help, but within three years, President Trump and I will deliver an air traffic control system worthy of the greatest nation on Earth. The stakes—our safety and national security—demand nothing less.
Sean Duffy is the United States secretary of transportation.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
