The Federal Aviation Administration announced it would expedite certain technological upgrades for the air traffic control operations managing Newark Liberty International Airport.
The details
In Philadelphia, air traffic controllers manage incoming flights into Newark’s intricate and congested airspace. The system they use to process radar information operates out of New York. According to the FAA, they plan to install advanced, high-speed connections linking the Philadelphia control center with New York to boost reliability and create redundant pathways. In time, the administration intends to set up a central hub within the Philadelphia location dedicated to handling radar data.
The organization plans to substitute outdated copper telecommunication lines with modern fiber-optic systems. Additionally, they aim to introduce a provisional backup solution capable of managing communication during the transition period toward implementing the new fiber-optic infrastructure. On Wednesday, however, the FAA did not specify when these improvements would be carried out at the Philadelphia station.
The context
The FAA is rushing to upgrade and enhance its air-traffic control operations following an incident.
deadly midair collision
in January,
persistent equipment outages
, stretched
air-traffic controller staffing
and
continued close calls
Across the nation’s airports, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is anticipated to present a strategy for revamping the air-traffic control system on Thursday.
Due to runway construction and staff and technology problems at the Philadelphia location, the agency has reduced the number of arrivals and departures at Newark.
Recently, due to technology failures, several FAA controllers managing Newark airspace have requested trauma-related leave. In response, United Airlines stated they would
Cancel 35 daily round-trip flights
From Newark starting May 25 due to staff shortages among controllers in Philadelphia.
The FAA mentioned they were striving to boost the number of air traffic controllers managing Newark airspace. During the previous summer, the organization had reassigned 24 controllers from New York to the facility in Philadelphia.
The agency announced on Wednesday that the facility currently boasts 22 fully accredited controllers managing Newark operations, along with an additional 21 trainees who are either controllers or supervisors. This development represents a “robust talent stream,” according to the FAA’s description.
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