For the past 15 years Travelers United and I have been working on the modernization of the Air Traffic Control operation.
Today we had the biggest Air Traffic Control bill from DOT in the last 15 years, which is ready for implementation…at least the hardware side of the equation. The government has grappled with this problem for at least two decades. We have plenty of governmental solutions, from setting up a semi-private system to more or less the same, to a program based on take-offs and landings. As far as I could tell, I was the lone consumer advocate at this large kickoff program.
Trump’s bill has provided the funding to get the project rolling. All I can say is good luck on beginning this massive undertaking. This bill addresses the infrastructure. The next bill pays for the software to improve capabilities as the work continues. The timeline is problematic, and the software portion of the bill that hasn’t been passed yet is even more so.
The government brochure, which was handed out as everyone entered, starts with the following letter.
Since day one, the Trump Administration has been laser-focused on delivering a world-class air traffic control system the American people deserve. For decades, our national airspace was defined by neglect — a patchwork of ancient tech and a shortage of air traffic controllers.
These days are over.
Thanks to President Trump and our partners in Congress, the One Big Beautiful Bill has unleashed a historic $12.5 billion investment into our skies.
In just one year, we have moved with speed to
- Replace almost 50% of all copper wires
- Convert about 270 radio sites nationwide
- Install Service Awareness Systems at 54 airports
- Transition 17 towers to electronic flight strips
And even more state-of-the-art upgrades are coming to an airport near you by the end of 2028.
We have supercharged the air traffic controller pipeline. We recruited a record-breaking 2,400 new hires since last March. The ATC system has the highest staffing levels in six years. We are finding the best and the brightest and equipping them with the tools to succeed.
Across the country, more than 4,600 FAA sites are being overhauled with new radars, digital voice switches, and training simulators. This is a massive effort. It requires big work. We estimate this modernization project will take more than 10 million total labor hours, or 1.5 million working days. This is the largest project to impact our skies since the invention of commercial flight.
For many years, there has. been stopping and starting. The Trump Administration is doing this modernization plan the right way. From welders to programmers, we have employed 21 specialized labor categories and are working with 52 vendors. We are investing in American manufacturing and patriots who build these vital tools. America has always been a nation of builders — a legacy forged through innovation, grit, and will. We are tapping into that tradition today to usher in the Golden Age of Transportation.
Let’s get to work.
Sean P. Duffy, US Transportation Secretary
Funding this information will help the entire project. In the past, money was the problem. The entire ATC system can only be completed with the will of Congress. It will rest on a software funding bill. And that funding comes from the budget process. We will all need the Department of Transportation and the FAA to help the budget passed by Congress.
America’s national airspace is the busiest in the world.
At any moment there are more than 5,000 flights in the air. With the integration of eVTOLs and drones, congestion is expected to increase.
Today, we are managing our skies with multiple systems, resulting in siloed schedules and expected delays for passengers. We need a more modern, cohesive system to optimize airspace earlier. We’re committed to delivering the reliable air travel experience our travelers deserve. The ATC shouldn’t use more than a dozen systems to manage our airspace.
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Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
