To keep the skies safe, FAA needs an image change

Thanks to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation Sean Duffy, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is finally obtaining the change of image that it deserves with an unprecedented emergency sensation.

Duffy has promised “massive updates” to the air traffic control system of our nation in the next 18 months. These updates, which include addressing the shortage of air traffic controller, modernizing aging technology and prioritizing the updates that most safety support, are very late.

Although the “nearby calls” and aviation incidents are receiving more attention in the news after the tragedy at the Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, earlier this year, the fact is that what we are seeing today is the accumulated effect of decades of sub -financing and the same old old processes. Now is the moment of a call to attention to keep the United States the Gold standard when it comes to aviation security.

SILHOUETTE COMMERCIAL AIR APARTMENT ON THE AIRPORT CONTROL TORPE AT SURPERT (Istock)

I am the author of the FAA Security Review Team (SRT), and in it we call the bell as strongly as possible to attract attention to the urgent need to address the staff, technology and financing of the system.

Sean Duffy: United States air traffic systems need urgent update

As the industry has pointed out in the last decade, delaying the modernization of FAA is not exempt from risk. The use of paper strips and disk to track flights was unacceptable 10 years ago; Today is outrageous.

As a former DOT engineer explained, the current system “is a mosaic of archaic software languages ​​housed on different old platforms that cannot be supported with current operating systems or computer hardware.” They do not even teach people in schools how to repair the things that FAA works today.

By aggravating these modernization challenges, the shortage of air traffic control of the nation continues to get worse. According to the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers, approximately half of the air traffic drivers work six days a week, 10 hours a day. And yet, air traffic control towers have little personal, and progress has not been made to change that.

What should happen next to take advantage of the moment and make flying safer now

In fact, the inspector general of the Department of Transportation reported that his “audit work shows that the lack of a FAA plan to address these personnel challenges limits the capacity of the (National Air Space System).” The good news is that Secretary Duffy has already announced changes to rationalize hiring and increase the payment of drivers.

It is a first step in a long way, but its energy approach is a breath of fresh air. As Duffy said, “the Government takes eight, 10, 15 years to update the systems, and that is the enemy of progress.”

The status quo of taking decades to modernize outdated systems and fully personal air traffic control facilities can no longer fly. It must be a priority for the Trump administration.

So what can be done? As a first step, let’s call this what it is: an emergency.

Travel headaches show the need for federals to focus on the technology work of the airlines, since the real delay, the culprit revealed

Like any emergency, it deserves solid emergency funds for the modernization of the system, as well as the hiring and training of the workforce. But that is just a stop measure.

In the long term, Congress must provide stable funds for the FAA budget so that they can address these priorities in a timely and uninterrupted way. Each threat of a government closure, even those that do not ultimately occur, costs dozens of millions of dollars.

The entrance to the FAA headquarters in Washington, DC, on October 7, 2024. (J. David Ake/Getty Images)

Secondly, it is clear that air traffic controllers need new contracting currents and training programs. And although the hiring of initiatives such as direct training to ease is an important beginning, FAA must address its deserting problems “higher than expected” due to retirement and air traffic controls that leave due to the mental toll of work.

This is how from the threat control tower

In our SRT work, we discover that our current hiring and training processes can barely keep up to date with retirement and wear, delivering a workforce in 2032 that is almost the same as today.

After recent incidents, those who travel regularly for work or to see family members wonder if it is really sure to fly. While air trips is the safest and much safer travel mode than driving a car, Americans are looking for peace of mind that it will remain like this.

The Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and President Donald Trump shake hands during a press conference in the White House reports on January 30. Duffy said Trump will obtain the “first glance” of the new air traffic control system. (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg through Getty Images)

Let me be clear: flying is safe. But aviation often sacrifices efficiency to preserve security.

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Air traffic drivers slow down air traffic to maintain the safe system. Therefore, it can be badly delayed, but we will never commit your safety.

Fortunately, Secretary Duffy recognizes the urgency of the matter and the expensive inefficiencies of status quo. Now, it is time for the Administration to put these words in action and, with a strong support from Congress, create an air traffic control system from which we can be proud.

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