The Trump administration is moving to address issues within the U.S. air traffic control system. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is set to meet with CEOs of major airlines this week to discuss a plan to update air traffic control and create a more secure system.
Duffy’s meeting with airline leaders is part of a plan created after a crash near Ronald Reagan National Airport earlier this year highlighted the need for major safety improvements. So far, Congress has approved a budget of $12.5 billion to put towards updating and improving U.S. air traffic control.
In an appearance on the “Pod Force Once podcast,” Duffy told host Miranda Devine that there had been 85 “near misses” in the airspace surrounding Ronald Reagan National Airport during the three years leading up to the crash. Duffy pointed out that these incidents gave plenty of warning that severe safety issues needed to be addressed. “Someone should have seen it in the last administration. They didn’t. Tragedy struck,” Duffy said.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration revealed a plan to address safety issues and modernize the air traffic control system, noting that the Biden administration had failed to do so. The plan included enthusiastic support from the airline CEOs, who stressed a need for a complete overhaul of the system and stated the problem had existed for decades.
Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan thanked President Trump for his “stellar leadership” in addressing the issue. “This challenge is decades old,” Jordan said, “but I am absolutely confident that we can get this done and that we are finally going to address the real problem.
The details of the plan stated by the Trump administration include the implementation of updated wireless and satellite technology at over 4,600 air traffic control stations and the construction of six new air traffic control centers.