The FAA will commit $6 billion by year-end to upgrade air-traffic telecom infrastructure and radar surveillance, with deployments planned through 2028. Congress approved $12.5 billion in June to kick off modernization, and the administration is seeking an additional $19 billion or more to finish the program. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford defended flight reductions made during a prolonged shutdown and said he will maintain Washington airspace safety despite possible legislation allowing more military helicopter flights.
FAA Pledges $6B for Air-Traffic Telecom and Radar Overhaul; Systems Due by 2028
A view of the air traffic control tower at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Jim Vondruska
The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Tuesday that it will commit $6 billion by the end of the year to upgrade air-traffic telecommunications infrastructure and radar surveillance systems. The FAA says the new systems are scheduled to be deployed by the end of 2028 as part of a broader effort to modernize the nation’s aging air-traffic control network.
Funding Context and Timeline
Congress approved $12.5 billion in June to begin reforming the U.S. air-traffic control system, and the administration is seeking an additional $19 billion or more to complete the overhaul. The FAA’s $6 billion commitment is intended to accelerate key telecom and radar upgrades while planning continues for the broader modernization program.
Policy and Safety Issues
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, testifying at a U.S. House aviation subcommittee hearing, defended the agency’s decision to require flight reductions during a prolonged government shutdown, saying the moves were necessary to preserve safety and operational integrity. He also told lawmakers he would ensure the safety of Washington-area air traffic even as legislation under consideration could permit more military helicopter flights in the capital’s airspace.
Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington.
