On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti The struggle to update America's aging air traffic control system
May 27, 2025
Join Dave Sparrow, President of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialist at AFL-CIO and former Air Force member, alongside Michael Huerta, the 17th FAA administrator. They delve into the urgent need to modernize America's aging air traffic control system and the limitations posed by outdated funding models. The conversation highlights shocking communication failures and the struggles of air traffic controllers amidst inadequate infrastructure. They also explore the importance of updating technology and training to ensure the safety and efficiency of national airspace.
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Structure of Air Traffic Control
- Air traffic control is divided into local towers, terminal approach facilities, and air route traffic control centers.
- These centers manage increasingly large airspace volumes, from a few miles radius to nationwide high-altitude flights.
Modernization at Regional Centers
- Enroute Automation Modernization (ERAM) system at regional centers is fairly modern and updated regularly.
- It allows all 21 centers to access and share flight data simultaneously over a vast geographic area.
Old Buildings, Upgraded Electronics
- The air route traffic control center buildings are very old, some 60-70 years.
- While electronics systems inside have been modernized regularly, facility infrastructures are aging and require significant upgrades.