President Trump announced Thursday that his administration hopes to replace the technology at thousands of air traffic control sites across the country and create six new coordination centers. Mr Trump calls for press conference saying transport secretary Sean Duffy Plans for a new air traffic control system are being adhered to.
"After decades of originality - we have adopted reliable services long ago, air traffic control has been supposed to be long ago, not really reforms, which is reshaping," Mr. Trump said. "It has to be met with modern standards."
The president also said he believes the current system remains "very safe" before the summer travel season.
Mr Trump said his administration hopes to replace the technology at more than 4,600 air traffic control sites and create six new air traffic coordination centers. Officials said the plan also calls for the purchase of 25,000 new radios, replace more than 600 radars, and install 4,000 new high-speed network connections.
An aviation industry alliance said in a statement that the plan requested at least $18.5 billion in emergency funds over three years. Duffy told reporters that the final number will depend on Congress, which is currently controlled by Republicans.
"It's going to be billions, billions," Duffy said, a member of Congress who represented Wisconsin from 2011 to 2019.
Duffy also said the government believes that the implementation of the plan will take up to four years.
The proposals come months after a deadly air collision between Army helicopters and commercial airliners in Washington, D.C. in January. Investigation is under investigation. Ask Duffy if it can prevent collisions.
“It’s different,” Duffy said. “This could have an impact on saving lives… We have had 85 near-turnovers at DCA (Reagan National Airport) and I think all airline CEOs will tell you that all industries will tell you that it is dangerous and we should see that if we don’t stop stopping crossovers in the DC area, that would be my other risk.
The news comes after Newark Liberty International Airport continues to process interruptions Power outage last week. Air traffic controller guides flights to Newark Lost communication On April 28, their screens were blank for about 90 seconds.
"We don't have radar, so I don't know where you are," a controller said on the recorded transmission.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the power outage lasted about 30 seconds and the plane reappeared on the controller's screen for 30-60 seconds.
Duffy talked about the interruption at the event Thursday, saying the main communication line was lowered and the backup line was not opened. He said this incident is an example of why modern systemization is needed.
"If we don't actually complete the mission announced today, you're going to see Newarks not only in Newark, but in other parts of the country, because it's an aging system," Duffy said.
Several controllers continue Trauma Leave After the power outage, it is at least partly caused by the frying copper wire. Newark also had more than 4,000 delays and more than 1,000 cancellations in and out of Newark.
In an interview ahead of Duffy's announcement, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian told CBS News that he fully supports upgrading the air traffic control system.
"I'm not saying that working conditions are acceptable, and I think the controllers are doing a great job in management," Bastian said in an interview with "CBS Sunday Author Mother."
Bastian said it was safe to fly, but he also said that the air traffic control system could not operate longer in its current form.
“What we need is a huge investment our government has made in modernizing air traffic control, and I know this administration, and I know the Minister of Transportation is committed to delivering,” Bastian said.