Washington, DC

NBAA welcomes new legislation boosting ATC modernization funding

NBAA joined Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, as well as other government and industry leaders, on September 28th in applauding new Senate legislation that would provide substantial added funding to continue critical air traffic control (ATC) modernization work begun last year.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO), was introduced at an event hosted by Duffy at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The measure would give DOT an additional $30bn for ATC modernization.

The bill’s introduction comes on the heels of Duffy’s recent formal request that Congress provide the funding as an add-on to the $12.5bn lawmakers approved last year as a downpayment on aviation system modernization, including upgrades to ATC telecom infrastructure, airports and control towers.

Joining Duffy at the DCA event were FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and the leaders with several industry stakeholder organizations. Along with NBAA, those groups and nearly 60 others are part of the Modern Skies Coalition, formed last year to support the administration’s plans to upgrade aviation safety and maintain America’s position as the global aerospace leader. Shortly after the coalition’s formation, Congress approved the first $12.5bn infusion for system upgrades.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy with NBAA Interim COO Dan Hubbard.

“NBAA stands with the rest of the aviation industry in supporting Sen. Schmitt’s legislation to provide additional funding to complete the essential work of ATC modernization - a national imperative, as demonstrated most recently by equipment outages disrupting the system,” NBAA Interim COO Dan Hubbard said.

“The FAA is making progress on a host of modernization priorities with last year’s downpayment from Congress,” Hubbard added. “Additional funding will further strengthen our infrastructure, benefitting all citizens and communities. Equally important, it will ensure the U.S. continues to lead the world in aviation and aerospace.”

The nation’s ATC system serves approximately 45,000 flights every day. ATC modernization requires updates at more than 4,600 FAA sites across the country.

Schmitt is a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the panel’s Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation. The Senate is in session this week before recessing until after the November election.