ALPA Urges Congress to Prioritize Modernization of Air Traffic Control to Meet Rising Aviation Demands

Release #: 24.32
December 12, 2024

ALPA Urges Congress to Prioritize Modernization of Air Traffic Control to Meet Rising Aviation Demands

WASHINGTON- Testifying before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation's Aviation Safety Subcommittee on U.S. Air Traffic Control Systems, Personnel and Safety, Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), outlined how implementing new and expanding existing communications, navigation and surveillance technologies with air traffic management systems will ease the burden placed on flight crews and improve the safety of our skies.

"We have seen in several near-miss incidents, including a particularly close call in Austin in February of last year, pilots are the final line of defense in ensuring safety in aviation," said Ambrosi. "As operators in the system, pilots have a vested interest in the Federal Aviation Administration sustaining legacy systems and advancing technological and infrastructure improvements to ensure the National Airspace System remains safe and efficient. However, the system's potential isn't being fully realized-in part because many airliners aren't properly equipped to take advantage of its updated capabilities."

Integrating better communications, navigation, and surveillance technologies with air traffic management systems improve situational awareness and produce safer and more efficient operations. The capabilities that have been implemented with NextGen have increased situational awareness and provided tools to help pilots make safe decisions through performance-based navigation, data communication, and ADS-B implementation. However, only 43 airports nationwide are fully equipped with key NextGen technologies and in some circumstances, nearly 20 percent of airliners are unable to utilize the new procedures, leaving pilots and air traffic controllers to use workarounds which add complexity and workload.

"Unfortunately, underinvestment, including for the Facilities and Equipment account, is affecting the systems pilots and air traffic controllers use to ensure safe and efficient operations. Resources have not kept up with inflation and effectively require the agency to prioritize sustainment to the detriment of modernization and infrastructure needs," added Ambrosi.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 79,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on Twitter @ALPAPilots.

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or [email protected]