Airport Alert: DOT Secretary Duffy Calls for Tens of Billions of Dollars to Upgrade ATC System
DOT Secretary Duffy Calls for Tens of Billions of Dollars to Upgrade ATC System
May 8, 2025
Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy at a press conference today at DOT Headquarters attended by AAAE and leaders from across the aviation industry called for investing tens of billions of dollars to modernize the nation’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) system over the next three to four years.
The administration’s plan, which does not yet include specific requested dollar amounts, is compromised of four “infrastructure components”: communications, surveillance, automation and facilities. According to DOT, the plan includes replacing antiquated telecommunications with new fiber, wireless and satellite technologies at more than 4,600 sites, 25,000 new radios and 475 new voice switches; replacing 618 radars; addressing runway safety by increasing the number of airports with Surface Awareness Initiative to 200; building six new air traffic control centers and replacing towers and TRACONS; installing new modern hardware and software for all air traffic facilities to create a common platform system throughout towers, TRACONs and centers; and adding 174 new weather stations to address challenges in Alaska.
AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli, who spoke during the press conference, has called for quick action to invest in needed technology, personnel and facilities at FAA towers and contract towers. Today, Hauptli pointed to aging facilities at airports in urgent need of upgrades and said it was unacceptable to controllers and the American public that today’s smart phones have more technology than what is currently available to air traffic controllers.
“Modernizing aging air traffic control assets in the air and on the ground will strengthen safety and efficiency and give travelers, users and all Americans an air traffic control system that maintains our position as the global aviation leader,” AAAE noted in supporting the proposal from the administration and efforts by Congress to upgrade ATC systems and facilities. “AAAE is grateful to Secretary Duffy, the Trump administration and congressional leaders for taking quick action to invest in critical technology, facilities and personnel. We are proud to join our industry colleagues in supporting these investments in our nation’s aviation future.”
Also speaking at the event was President Donald Trump, who called in via telephone, Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau, NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), and representatives from a broad spectrum of the aviation industry, including Airlines for America, multiple airline CEOs, Airbus and Boeing.
Additional details on today’s announcement can be viewed here.
May 8, 2025
Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy at a press conference today at DOT Headquarters attended by AAAE and leaders from across the aviation industry called for investing tens of billions of dollars to modernize the nation’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) system over the next three to four years.
The administration’s plan, which does not yet include specific requested dollar amounts, is compromised of four “infrastructure components”: communications, surveillance, automation and facilities. According to DOT, the plan includes replacing antiquated telecommunications with new fiber, wireless and satellite technologies at more than 4,600 sites, 25,000 new radios and 475 new voice switches; replacing 618 radars; addressing runway safety by increasing the number of airports with Surface Awareness Initiative to 200; building six new air traffic control centers and replacing towers and TRACONS; installing new modern hardware and software for all air traffic facilities to create a common platform system throughout towers, TRACONs and centers; and adding 174 new weather stations to address challenges in Alaska.
AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli, who spoke during the press conference, has called for quick action to invest in needed technology, personnel and facilities at FAA towers and contract towers. Today, Hauptli pointed to aging facilities at airports in urgent need of upgrades and said it was unacceptable to controllers and the American public that today’s smart phones have more technology than what is currently available to air traffic controllers.
“Modernizing aging air traffic control assets in the air and on the ground will strengthen safety and efficiency and give travelers, users and all Americans an air traffic control system that maintains our position as the global aviation leader,” AAAE noted in supporting the proposal from the administration and efforts by Congress to upgrade ATC systems and facilities. “AAAE is grateful to Secretary Duffy, the Trump administration and congressional leaders for taking quick action to invest in critical technology, facilities and personnel. We are proud to join our industry colleagues in supporting these investments in our nation’s aviation future.”
Also speaking at the event was President Donald Trump, who called in via telephone, Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau, NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), and representatives from a broad spectrum of the aviation industry, including Airlines for America, multiple airline CEOs, Airbus and Boeing.
Additional details on today’s announcement can be viewed here.
