The recent telecom failure points to the ongoing need for funding to update communications and radar technology used within the aviation industry.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has requested an additional $30 billion from Congress to help fix aging infrastructure in the U.S. aviation industry. This request came after a regional air traffic control facility in Philadelphia experienced the failure of both its primary and backup communications lines.
These failures left controllers without radar or communications, halted commercial air traffic at Newark for most of the day, and led to the cancellation of over 200 flights into and out of Philadelphia International Airport.
Secretary Duffy stated, “I have money for some of the telecom replacing old copper wires. Bringing in new fiber so it’s faster. The problem is this is a 40-year-old architecture or design. I need new money to do a whole new design – a new architecture of telecom so it will never go down.”
A third of the requested funds would be allocated for airport improvements. The remainder would be used to replace outdated communications and radar systems technology.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Duffy as he works to secure funding to make important technological improvements to keep air travel safe in the U.S.
- For Administrator Bedford as he oversees the Federal Aviation Administration’s improvements to communications and other systems.
- For air traffic controllers as they seek to maintain safe aircraft operations across the U.S.
Sources: WWTW, Forbes
