The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is preparing to implement major upgrades to both its technological systems and staffing capacity for the air traffic control operations that direct planes flying into Newark Liberty International Airport. The decision comes in the wake of a serious equipment failure that caused over a week of widespread delays and cancellations.
According to a statement released by the FAA on Wednesday, the agency will install three new high-capacity data lines to strengthen the communication link between control centers in New York and Philadelphia. These systems jointly manage air traffic in and out of Newark. The goal is to create a more dependable and redundant infrastructure to prevent future outages.
As part of these enhancements, the FAA and the Department of Transportation are transitioning from outdated copper wire systems to modern fiber optic networks. Additionally, they intend to implement a secondary, backup communication system at the Philadelphia facility to ensure continuity of operations in case of technical disruptions.
The trigger for these changes was a brief but significant breakdown at the Philadelphia control center last week, during which radar and radio contact with aircraft was lost for approximately 90 seconds. Since then, Newark Airport has faced persistent flight delays and cancellations, a situation worsened by ongoing staffing limitations in Philadelphia and runway construction work at Newark.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is set to unveil a comprehensive proposal on Thursday to modernize the national air traffic control infrastructure. His plan, which aims to upgrade facilities and replace outdated equipment, has gained additional traction following a fatal midair crash near Washington earlier this year. The recent Newark complications have added further pressure to move quickly on reforms.
The FAA also announced a commitment to bolster its workforce at the Philadelphia site. The facility currently has 22 fully certified air traffic controllers, along with 21 other personnel—both supervisors and trainees. Of those in training, 10 are actively engaged in hands-on instruction at present, the agency said.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Duffy said he may convene representatives from all airlines operating at Newark to coordinate a better approach to handling flights at the airport.
In response to the ongoing air traffic control difficulties, United Airlines Holdings Inc. has eliminated 35 round-trip flights per day from its Newark schedule. The airport is United’s largest hub for international departures and a vital link in its domestic network. Delta Air Lines Inc. has also reduced its flights due to the same operational issues.
{Matzav.com}
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