WASHINGTON — With a record number of airline travelers expected this holiday season, a Senate subcommittee held a hearing on the safety of the air traffic control system following several high-profile near misses. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation subcommittee heard testimony on accelerating an overhaul of the nation’s aging air traffic control system

  • Senators cited the near collision of two planes in Austin, Texas, last year, and two near collisions this year at Reagan National Airport just outside of the nation’s capital
  • The Government Accountability Office, a federal watchdog, said more than 50 air traffic control systems need to be replaced, and that 17 of those are especially concerning and it would take from six to 13 years to replace them under the Federal Aviation Administration’s current timetable

  • Senators thanked FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker for his service as he plans to step down when President Biden leaves office, paving the way for a new administrator under President-elect Donald Trump 
 

Ahead of the holiday travel rush, a panel of aviation experts gave U.S. Senators a stark warning Thursday.  

“Flying is safe, but continuing to rely on these legacy systems diminishes the margin of safety and adds stress to the national airspace. FAA needs to break modernizations in smaller pieces, deliver functionality quicker and improve accountability,” said Kevin Walsh, director of U.S. Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan federal watchdog group. 

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation subcommittee listened to testimony on speeding up an overhaul of the nation’s aging air traffic control system. Senators cited the near collision of two planes in Austin, Texas, last year, and two near collisions this year at Reagan National Airport just outside of the nation’s capital. 

“There’s a growing consensus across a wide range of aviation stakeholders that Congress needs to address this issue. We need modern, sustainable air traffic control systems to keep the flag public safe,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois.

With Republicans set to take control of the Senate next year, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, will be the new chair of the commerce committee and says airspace efficiency and reliability will be priorities for him in the new Congress.

“Our nation should be the leader in the field, and instead, we are stuck with technology that is outdated almost as soon as it is introduced into the airspace. I applaud the thousands of air traffic controllers who safely manage thousands of flights, but broader conversations about how we modernize our air traffic system are desperately needed,” Cruz said. 

The Government Accountability Office said more than 50 air traffic control systems need to be replaced, and that 17 of those are especially concerning. The FAA’s current timeline estimates replacing them will take six to 13 years.

One official with the air traffic controllers union told Senators many facilities used by his members are out of date. Upgrading them is projected to cost billions of dollars.

“When major systems fail or facilities have structural problems, it can lead to flight delays or temporary airspace shutdowns. It is implausible to build the air traffic control system of the future in outdated and inadequate buildings. The national airspace system needs and deserves the best facilities and equipment to move this nation’s passengers and cargos,” said Dean Iacopelli, chief of staff of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. 

The Senators also took the time to thank FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker for his leadership. Whitaker announced he plans to resign a little more than a year into his five-year term, when President Joe Biden leaves office. That would allow President-elect Donald Trump to name his replacement.