Last week, the Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled a new plan to overhaul the air traffic controller system.
DOT Secretary Sean P. Duffy said it “is an economic and national security necessity, and the time to fix it is now.”
He’s a million percent correct. When a deadly plane crash occurred earlier this year, action needed to be taken. Fixing the air traffic controller system is long overdue – they’re using floppy disks in the year 2025…how wild is that?
As part of the new plan, the FAA would replace core infrastructure including radar, software, hardware and telecommunications networks.
This proposal is suggesting $12.5 billion to modernize the air traffic controller system.
Will Congress approve it?
The U.S. Travel Association certainly hopes so and is doing its part to advocate for it.
“We commend Secretary Duffy for his leadership and vision in tackling the urgent needs of our air traffic control system,” said Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Prior to President Trump’s administration, America’s leadership too often focused on fines and fees when it came to air travel. What Secretary Duffy announced today will benefit travelers and the broader U.S. economy, and it’s the type of leadership that America’s travel industry has been calling for.”
Notice the subtle shot at the Biden Administration by the U.S. Travel Association?
Issues with air traffic controller systems and staffing have persisted for a decade now. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association told Congress in 2015 that the shortage was at a crisis level.
And in 2018 they said the number of air traffic controllers was at 30-year low.
While yes, the Biden Administration did place more focus on passenger rights and delivered fines to different US airlines, the air traffic controller problems go well beyond one presidential term.
Perhaps this is the core of the problem with getting some real change accomplished. Different administrations put emphasis on different things, with current events often playing a role in where the focus lies.
One of the big focal points during Trump’s first term in office for the DOT was all about the drones in airspace.
This current Trump Administration has no choice but to put everything into enhancing the safety of air travel. Given what happened, it would be a travesty if they didn’t.
What would things be like if the leadership at the Department of Transportation didn’t change every four years?
To me, Congress also no choice but to approve the funding for this new proposed plan…otherwise it will come across like they don’t care about improvements in the name of enhancing the safety of the American traveler.
What do you make of this new proposed plan?
Let me know your thoughts and follow me on social media: @EricBowman_
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