Air Traffic Control System Aging, Leading to Potential Flight Schedule Cuts

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has publicly addressed the growing concerns surrounding the United States’ aging air traffic control system, acknowledging that it is showing significant signs of strain. In a press conference held on Tuesday, Duffy emphasized the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) commitment to upgrading the crucial hardware that air traffic controllers rely on daily to manage the nation’s airspace. The overriding priority, he stressed, is to ensure the safety of passengers during air travel.

However, until these necessary upgrades are fully implemented, airlines might face the prospect of having to significantly reduce their flight schedules. This potential measure is being considered as a way to maintain safety standards within the current limitations of the air traffic control infrastructure.

"If we can only do 24-28 flights an hour," Duffy stated, "that’s all we’re going to do to feel like we are adequate in the mission of keeping people safe in going from Point A to Point B." This statement highlights the potential for reduced flight capacity to ensure safety is not compromised.

The situation at Newark Liberty International Airport has been particularly problematic, serving as a focal point for these broader air traffic control issues in recent weeks. The airport has experienced a series of disruptions, including a temporary radar and radio outage, which led to significant delays and flight cancellations. These disruptions have continued to plague the airport since the initial outage occurred on April 28, raising serious concerns about the reliability of the current system.

Duffy pointed to a contributing factor in the ongoing problems at Newark: the decision by the Biden administration to relocate some of Newark’s air traffic control operations from a facility on Long Island to a new location in Philadelphia. According to Duffy, this move was undertaken without adequately ensuring that the telecommunication equipment feeding the controllers’ monitors was properly functioning and integrated.

While acknowledging that the move may have exacerbated the situation, Duffy was also careful to emphasize that the underlying problems within the air traffic control system are not new. He noted that former President Donald Trump was aware of the issues during his first term and had formulated a plan to address them during his potential second term. However, Trump was unable to implement this plan when President Biden took office.

"What you see in Newark, we’re going to have to fix, we’re going to do it fast, but we’re going to do it right," Duffy asserted, signaling a commitment to addressing the immediate issues. He also cautioned that similar situations could potentially arise at other airports across the country due to the age and outdated nature of the national air traffic control system. "We could see other situations like this around the country because the system is old," he warned.

In response to the concerns surrounding the move of air traffic control operations to Philadelphia, Duffy has called on the Office of the Inspector General to launch a formal inquiry into how the relocation was planned and implemented. This inquiry aims to determine whether the move was properly executed and to identify any potential oversights or shortcomings in the process.

A key meeting is scheduled for May 14, during which Duffy will meet with representatives from the FAA, airlines, and airports to discuss the summer flight schedule at Newark. The outcome of this meeting could potentially lead to further schedule cuts as authorities seek to manage the situation and maintain safety standards.

Chris Rocheleau, the acting administrator of the FAA, underscored the need for a transparent and fair process in determining any potential schedule reductions. "All those airlines are going to have to come and explain what they need and make sure we’re doing this in a fair, open and transparent manner," Rocheleau said. "Both the airport as well as the airlines are going to have strong feelings about what they need to get out of Newark. We will have those conversations and make those decisions public."

United Airlines, which operates a major hub at Newark, has been actively advocating for the FAA to re-implement stricter controls on the rate of arrivals and departures at the airport. The airline believes that this measure is necessary to alleviate congestion and improve overall operational efficiency.

According to Duffy and Rocheleau, officials from most airlines that operate flights out of Newark are expected to participate in the upcoming meeting on Wednesday. United Airlines has already taken proactive steps to address the situation by voluntarily removing 35 daily round-trip flights from its Newark schedule. However, Duffy indicated that further schedule cuts across various operators at the airport are still a possibility.

Duffy reiterated the fundamental principle guiding all decisions related to air traffic control: the paramount importance of safety. "What we’re doing is guaranteeing safety. When you have problems, you actually slow things down. That’s what we’re doing, we’ve slowed down the flights at Newark," he explained. This statement emphasizes that prioritizing safety might necessitate temporary reductions in flight schedules to ensure that the air traffic control system can operate effectively and without compromising passenger well-being.

Zach Wichter, a travel reporter and writer of the "Cruising Altitude" column for USA TODAY, is based in New York. He can be reached at [email protected].