Opinion - Paper strips, floppy disks, and 1940's tech: Let's modernize our air traffic system
Passengers at Newark Liberty International Airport are facing a mess with hours-long delays and flight cancellations due to equipment outages and a severe air traffic controller shortage. As the quagmire was unfolding, a congressional committee unveiled a $15 billion framework aimed at fast-tracking aviation infrastructure upgrades to meet the demands of 21st-century air travel.
Although the announcement provides a critical launching pad, the rest of Congress must fulfill its end of the bargain and unlock the necessary taxpayer dollars to bring these upgrades to life. Given the U.S. reputation as the global leader in air travel is on the line, this would be a smart — and necessary — return on taxpayer investment.
The U.S. aviation sector handles more than 16 million flights each year, generating $1.45 trillion annually and supporting 5 percent of U.S. GDP. But even a system this robust requires reliable infrastructure and dedicated funding streams from the government to keep it running smoothly.
Recent safety incidents have raised concerns about the reliability of the very safeguards put in place to achieve this goal. The Notice to Airmen system, for example, communicates time-sensitive issues — from emergency military operations to inactive runway lights — to flight crews on the tarmac or in the air.
This system has failed twice over the last two months — threatening to stall operations and leave pilots in the dark. Meanwhile, a 2023 notice system outage triggered the first nationwide ground stop since the Sept. 11 attacks, disrupting more than 11,000 flights. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
A recent Government Accountability Office report found that 51 of the Federal Aviation Administration's 138 systems are considered 'unsustainable' — posing serious risks to passenger safety, operational efficiency and long-term reliability.
The root of the problem? The U.S. still relies on outdated, decades-old technology to maneuver jumbo jets. While other countries have embraced digital displays and infrared-based systems, American air traffic controllers are trained to use paper strips, floppy disks and World War II-era radar technology.
Fortunately, both Congress and the Trump administration have brought this glaring vulnerability to the forefront.
The framework recently unveiled by Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, would upgrade telecommunications, radar systems and air traffic control towers at U.S. airports. Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is also set to chime in with a complementary proposal and has already pledged to deploy some upgrades to the Notice to Airmen system by the end of the year.
Currently, the FAA relies on the standard congressional appropriations process for its funding — leaving critical aviation infrastructure upgrades vulnerable to political shifts and budget battles. This funding shouldn't be at the mercy of partisan priorities. The FAA needs more long-term funding certainty to move capital projects forward. An emergency modernization funding package from Congress — combined with the leadership of Duffy — would satisfy that appetite.
Just as buying a new car requires an upfront cost but promises greater safety and reliability over time, investing in our nation's aviation infrastructure will offer long-term security and benefits for all Americans. Right now, American taxpayer dollars are being put into an old clunker: 92 cents of every dollar goes toward maintaining these old, outdated systems.
The U.S. aviation sector is a major engine of economic growth, contributing significantly to GDP and supporting millions of jobs. The systems our airspace operates on keep the traveling public safe. Investing in the FAA's air traffic control is a prudent use of taxpayer dollars and a federal investment that is sorely needed.
Jackson Shedelbower is the executive director of the Center for Transportation Policy.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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