Latest news with #NationalAirspaceSystem
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
FAA announces dramatic cut in flights at Newark Airport for the foreseeable future
The FAA has dramatically cut the number of flights coming in and out of troubled Newark Liberty International Airport for at least the next several months, federal officials said Tuesday. Only 56 departing and arriving flights will be allowed at the New Jersey airport until construction at one runway is wrapped up on June 15 – a more than 30% decrease from the 80-plus flights hourly that were previously allowed. The limit will continue on Saturdays through the end of the year because of the ongoing runway, the Federal Aviation Administration announced. The rest of the week, only 68 outbound and inbound flights will be allowed until Oct. 25. The new order, which takes effect immediately, comes as chaos has gripped the airport over the last several weeks because of air traffic controller shortages, technology glitches and the runway construction. Before the crisis, Newark was one of the most crowded airports in the country — handling as many flights as major international hubs on a much smaller footprint. 'Our goal is to relieve the substantial inconvenience to the traveling public from excessive flight delays due to construction, staffing challenges, and recent equipment issues, which magnify as they spread through the National Airspace System,' Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said in a statement. Aviation experts have said cutting flights at the airport was the only way to get a safe handle on the travel disarray that has led to hundreds of cancellations and delays leaving fliers in misery. The FAA noted it could expand the number of flights allowed at a later date if it's determined the airport can handle it. This is a breaking story. Please check back for updates.
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
FAA Limits Newark Flights: What We Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is imposing new flight restrictions at Newark Liberty International Airport, capping the number of arriving flights to 28 per hour. The move comes amid concerns over operational efficiency, congestion, and safety risks at one of the nation's busiest airports. Why It Matters The limitations address chronic delays and overcrowding that have plagued Newark for years. FAA officials say the new arrival cap will help reduce air traffic congestion and improve runway management. The decision affects domestic and international carriers and may lead to schedule adjustments across major airlines. Passengers ride the air train at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey on May 7, 2025. Passengers ride the air train at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey on May 7, to Know Starting in October 2025, Newark will be limited to 28 scheduled arrivals and 28 departures per hour during peak periods. This formalizes and slightly reduces the previous voluntary targets that airlines and the FAA set to manage flow into the airport. Unlike LaGuardia and JFK, Newark is not designated as a "slot-controlled" airport, meaning airlines are not assigned specific takeoff and landing slots. Instead, the FAA uses schedule coordination to manage traffic, a step short of complete slot control. Air carriers operating out of Newark are expected to modify their schedules accordingly. The FAA noted it would work with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to coordinate implementation and ensure minimal disruption to passengers. Runway maintenance and infrastructure improvements are also driving the FAA's decision. Officials cited limited runway availability and the need to accommodate traffic while ongoing work is completed safely. The cap may cause schedule shifts not only at Newark but also at connecting hubs. Travelers may see itinerary changes, especially during high-demand times, as airlines adapt to fewer arrival windows. Newark has faced a difficult month due to multiple problems, including outages of radar and radio systems at the FAA's Philadelphia air traffic control center. These disruptions caused a sharp rise in flight delays and cancellations. To address this, federal authorities are implementing fiber optic improvements and developing a new radar center in Philadelphia to reduce the reliance on New York's outdated infrastructure. What People Are Saying Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau in a statement: "Our goal is to relieve the substantial inconvenience to the traveling public from excessive flight delays due to construction, staffing challenges, and recent equipment issues, which magnify as they spread through the National Airspace System." What Happens Next The FAA will closely monitor the new cap's impact and could make further adjustments based on operational data and stakeholder input. Meanwhile, passengers traveling through Newark in late 2025 and beyond should prepare for possible flight time changes and limited options during peak hours. The construction is slated to end on June 15; however, it will resume on Saturdays until the end of this year.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
I'm a former air traffic controller. The entire system is being stressed and the government needs to do more.
Todd Sheridan Yeary spent 13 years working at the FAA Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center. He says air traffic control is a high-pressure job with unpredictable challenges and safety concerns. The field is facing staffing shortages, which is stressing the National Airspace System's safety. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Todd Sheridan Yeary, a pastor and former air traffic controller who left the job in 2002 and is now based in Baltimore. It has been edited for length and clarity. I spent 13 years as an air traffic controller before pivoting my career. It's a well-paid but very stressful job. Many dynamics can change your shift altogether. On a normal cloudy day, if a thunderstorm starts, it could get tense — you can't control the weather and must respond in real time. There's heightened pressure when responding to constantly changing situations. If there's an aircraft incident or a midair collision — which are rare but shocking — the responsiveness needed takes hyperfocus. Additionally, the government needs to do more than pay lip service to the needs of the National Airspace System to sustain this field. I grew up in a house with two air traffic control parents, which influenced my decision to enter the field. After passing an air traffic control civil service test and completing 10 weeks of training, I chose to work at the FAA Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center since my stepmother was working there, and my father and I worked together in the same area for almost six years. I enjoy busy periods, like when I lined up the planes going into O'Hare and Midway, but air traffic controllers need time to recuperate. In today's environment, some controllers work up to a mandatory six-day week with overtime, and there's little reset time available. Pay is determined by the complexity of the facility you're assigned to. At the end of my career, my base was over six figures annually. With overtime, it's possible to make double that. The midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January is a complicated analysis. When these events occur, air traffic controllers must respond immediately to ensure that the incidents don't cause other incidents. You rely on your training much more when things are shifting than when things are routine. We can't minimize the significance of these incidents, but we also can't lose sight of the reality that the National Airspace System (even with tech and staffing challenges) is still safe. We still can't take that safety for granted — there is a tipping point. The reduction of flights into Newark Liberty International Airport is partly due to concerns about equipment, but the most active runway at Newark is out of service until next month due to runway improvements. That alone requires the number of flights to be reduced to avoid potential safety issues. Airline demand has still been growing, and companies are often resistant to cutting back on slots at major airports and airline hubs. I was working on 9/11, and we had to clear the airspace over the US immediately. That meant something as simple as telling a commercial flight that may have left DC for LA that it needed to land in Moline, Illinois. If the pilots said, "That's not on our flight plan," we might counter that it was an emergency. If they refused, we had instructions to notify our military counterpart, the National Guard fighter jets, to escort commercial planes to the ground during an unprecedented national emergency. Some pilots initially questioned the instructions, but the available information was changing quickly. Between ATC communications and airline flight dispatchers, we kept military interdictions and escorts to a minimum. The job is exciting, the controllers are dedicated, and the training is rigorous. However, much more intentional effort is needed for this field to continue to be rewarding. There's a shortage of air traffic controllers, and others are pending retirement. If the government doesn't step in, you may see more controllers going out on disability because the system's safety is being stressed, and the controllers are being pushed beyond their limits. I started pastoring a small church in 2001, and I decided to leave my job in air traffic control in 2002 because my congregation needed more of my attention. I moved to Baltimore in 2007 to pastor Douglas Memorial Community Church. I thought I might return one day, but the opportunity never presented itself. Do you have a story to share about working as an air traffic controller? Contact this editor at lhaas@ Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
20-05-2025
- General
- Business Insider
I'm a former air traffic controller. The entire system is being stressed and the government needs to do more.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Todd Sheridan Year y, a pastor and former air traffic controller who left the job in 2002 and is now based in Baltimore. It has been edited for length and clarity. I spent 13 years as an air traffic controller before pivoting my career. It's a well-paid but very stressful job. Many dynamics can change your shift altogether. On a normal cloudy day, if a thunderstorm starts, it could get tense — you can't control the weather and must respond in real time. There's heightened pressure when responding to constantly changing situations. If there's an aircraft incident or a midair collision — which are rare but shocking — the responsiveness needed takes hyperfocus. Additionally, the government needs to do more than pay lip service to the needs of the National Airspace System to sustain this field. Some controllers are adrenaline junkies — we like the pressure I grew up in a house with two air traffic control parents, which influenced my decision to enter the field. After passing an air traffic control civil service test and completing 10 weeks of training, I chose to work at the FAA Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center since my stepmother was working there, and my father and I worked together in the same area for almost six years. I enjoy busy periods, like when I lined up the planes going into O'Hare and Midway, but air traffic controllers need time to recuperate. In today's environment, some controllers work up to a mandatory six-day week with overtime, and there's little reset time available. Pay is determined by the complexity of the facility you're assigned to. At the end of my career, my base was over six figures annually. With overtime, it's possible to make double that. Each day has a baseline of predictability, but there's always uncertainty The midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January is a complicated analysis. When these events occur, air traffic controllers must respond immediately to ensure that the incidents don't cause other incidents. You rely on your training much more when things are shifting than when things are routine. We can't minimize the significance of these incidents, but we also can't lose sight of the reality that the National Airspace System (even with tech and staffing challenges) is still safe. We still can't take that safety for granted — there is a tipping point. I think it's safe to fly into Newark Airport right now The reduction of flights into Newark Liberty International Airport is partly due to concerns about equipment, but the most active runway at Newark is out of service until next month due to runway improvements. That alone requires the number of flights to be reduced to avoid potential safety issues. Airline demand has still been growing, and companies are often resistant to cutting back on slots at major airports and airline hubs. There have been countless stressful moments in my career I was working on 9/11, and we had to clear the airspace over the US immediately. That meant something as simple as telling a commercial flight that may have left DC for LA that it needed to land in Moline, Illinois. If the pilots said, "That's not on our flight plan," we might counter that it was an emergency. If they refused, we had instructions to notify our military counterpart, the National Guard fighter jets, to escort commercial planes to the ground during an unprecedented national emergency. Some pilots initially questioned the instructions, but the available information was changing quickly. Between ATC communications and airline flight dispatchers, we kept military interdictions and escorts to a minimum. There's a shortage of controllers and the system's safety is being stressed The job is exciting, the controllers are dedicated, and the training is rigorous. However, much more intentional effort is needed for this field to continue to be rewarding. There's a shortage of air traffic controllers, and others are pending retirement. If the government doesn't step in, you may see more controllers going out on disability because the system's safety is being stressed, and the controllers are being pushed beyond their limits. I started pastoring a small church in 2001, and I decided to leave my job in air traffic control in 2002 because my congregation needed more of my attention. I moved to Baltimore in 2007 to pastor Douglas Memorial Community Church. I thought I might return one day, but the opportunity never presented itself.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Opinion - Air traffic modernization is decades overdue, but Trump is finally going to get it done
When the Wright brothers took their first flight more than 100 years ago, who could have imagined that today nearly 90 percent of Americans would have flown in their lifetime? The dream of flight became a reality in the U.S., and what was once a luxury only the wealthy could experience has become affordable and accessible to all. As the birthplace of air travel, the U.S. should have the safest and most efficient system of air traffic control. Safety is the top priority of U.S. airlines, and this has made flying the safest mode of travel. What we don't have is the most efficient system. Report after report has shown that it is because of obsolete technology and inadequate staffing in our nation's air traffic control towers. Currently, towers are run with technology that was already aging in the late 1980s, featuring floppy disks, paper strips and copper wires. We are also short-staffed by nearly 3,000 air traffic controllers. These issues have led to delayed and cancelled flights and technology outages across the country, leaving travelers in the lurch and costing them time, money and patience. We cannot and will not settle for the status quo. To usher in a new 'Golden Age' of air travel, we must make this crisis a priority. U.S. airlines are pleased to see that the Trump administration is doing just that. Following the devastating crash in Washington that took the lives of 67 people, President Trump vowed to upgrade to upgrade from the obsolete equipment in our nation's air traffic control towers and ensure we have the best and brightest individuals staffing them. The administration will release its plan to modernize our skies soon. These upgrades are long overdue. Although this historic overhaul will require significant investment, the cost of doing nothing will far outweigh the cost of these improvements. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been working tirelessly to get this plan into motion. He reiterated at department headquarters recently that flying is safe, but that cracks are forming that must be addressed. 'Our airspace is safe because when there are issues, we don't fly. That's why we can confidently say this is the safest mode of travel,' the Secretary said. 'The disruptions, cancelled flights or delayed lights, people get angry, annoyed, frustrated and rightfully so, but I think you're starting to see cracks in the system, and you can see them in different locations.' Trump and Duffy are making this work a priority to bring about a new era of safe aviation. Millions of people and thousands of tons of cargo fly across the nation every single day. It is the duty of lawmakers to ensure the safety, efficiency and resiliency of the National Airspace System, so we urge Congress to act swiftly on Trump's and Duffy's plan to upgrade the infrastructure in our skies. Nicholas E. Calio is president and Chief Executive Officer, Airlines for America. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
