US Department of Transport (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy has announced a plan to modernize the old US air traffic control system, which includes replacing outdated telecommunications with new technology at more than 4,600 locations across the country.
“Decades of neglect have left us with an outdated system that is showing its age. Building this new system is an economic and national security necessity, and the time to fix it is now,” Duffy said.
The US DOT released a ‘Brand New Air Traffic Control System Plan’ on May 8, 2025, outlining a three-year strategy to improve the National Airspace System.
In the paper, the DOT makes it clear that currently the National Airspace System (NAS) “is safe”. However, the federal agency adds that maintaining that safety will come “at the expense of efficiencies,” and tackling current challenges of the old system “will not be easy”.
The agency plans to upgrade outdated telecommunications with modern fiber, wireless and satellite technologies at more than 4,600 locations, replacing 25,000 radios and adding 475 new voice switches.
The US DOT will replace 618 radars that are no longer functional. The agency stated that the absence of critical aircraft position and identity information “increases the risk of airborne collision”.
The agency also announced plans to enhance runway safety by expanding the Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) to 200 airports. This system offers real-time and precise information about aircraft and vehicles using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) on the surface movement areas of an airport in all weather conditions. At present, more than 400 airports lack surface tools for air traffic controllers.
The US DOT is set to build six new air traffic control centers, the first since the 1960s, and will replace existing towers and TRACONs. The agency’s goal is to speed up this process, cutting the replacement time to about 80 years, which will mean replacing four to five towers each year.
The agency also highlighted the need to install new modern hardware and software across all air traffic facilities to create a common platform system throughout towers, TRACONs and centers.
Finally, the agency has decided to add 174 new weather stations in Alaska to improve flight services in a state with “vast wilderness, limited infrastructure, and harsh weather”.
