The recent chronic delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey's largest airport, have brought attention to the pressing shortage of air traffic controllers and the outdated equipment they rely on. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is implementing a short-term strategy to mitigate these issues, which includes technical repairs and reducing flight numbers to manageable levels amid a persistent controller shortage. FAA officials are scheduled to meet with all airlines operating at Newark starting Wednesday to discuss these plans.
These delays and cancellations are compounded by previous aviation safety concerns, particularly following a midair collision involving a passenger jet and a U.S. Army helicopter above Washington, D.C., in January. A series of other incidents has further spotlighted the need for better air traffic management. Investigations into these crashes are ongoing as the U.S. Department of Transportation attempts to address the chronic under staffing of air traffic controllers and the reliance on outdated systems. A U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday will focus on the FAA's initiatives regarding these challenges.
Recent failures in the radar and communications systems used by air traffic controllers in Philadelphia for directing aircraft at Newark have exacerbated the situation. These systems experienced outages two times over a span of two-and-a-half weeks due to signal line failures from an FAA facility in New York. This left controllers unable to communicate with planes for up to 90 seconds on April 28 and May 9. Consequently, five to seven controllers took trauma leave after these episodes, worsening the existing staffing shortage at the Philadelphia control facility. Currently, there are only 22 fully certified controllers and five supervisors at Newark, whereas the target is to have 38 controllers in place.
To handle the limited controller availability, the FAA has restricted the number of flights operating from Newark to between 24 and 28 arrivals and 28 departures per hour. This cap contrasts sharply with the norm before the issues, which allowed for 38 to 39 flights every hour. The FAA's discussions with airlines will aim to maintain these limits until at least mid-June, at which point some controllers are expected to return, potentially allowing for increased traffic quotas.
In an effort to modernize systems, the FAA has installed new fiber optic lines at Newark as well as at New York’s other major airports, Kennedy International and LaGuardia, although these are still undergoing testing. Recent software updates prevented a third radar outage while the primary line was down on Sunday. Long-term plans include constructing a new radar system in Philadelphia to ensure that controllers are not entirely reliant on New York signals, although this project may take several months to complete.
Addressing the air traffic controller shortage remains a challenge for the FAA. The agency has been actively trying to recruit applicants to replace retiring personnel and manage increasing air traffic. The process is complex, requiring extensive training for candidates. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is working to streamline the hiring process and improve graduation rates at the Academy in Oklahoma City. Efforts include providing additional support for students and offering incentives to experienced controllers to remain in their roles.
The FAA is also enhancing training by implementing advanced simulators, allowing aspiring controllers to practice in realistic environments. However, the issue of outdated equipment continues to plague the air traffic control system. The Transportation Department plans to request substantial funding from Congress to replace aging radars, install new high-speed connections, and upgrade the computer systems used by controllers. Though Duffy attributes some of the problems to the Biden administration's inaction, the roots of these challenges date back decades, with recognition of the need for upgrades emerging as early as the 1990s.
Some of the antiquated equipment used by controllers was highlighted during a recent news conference, where Duffy utilized vivid metaphors to convey its age, likening it to technology from the film "Apollo 13" and a classic 1967 Volkswagen Beetle. This call for modernization has garnered support from a diverse array of industry stakeholders, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the infrastructure challenges in U.S. air traffic management.
