1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

congress I am writing as a concerned constituent to express deep alarm over the recent air traffic control failures at Newark Liberty International Airport. These incidents have exposed critical vulnerabilities in our aviation infrastructure, posing significant risks to passenger safety and the efficiency of our air travel system. On April 28, a communication failure at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control facility resulted in a 30-second loss of radar and radio contact with approximately 15 to 20 flights approaching Newark. This outage led to emergency procedures and caused over 885 flight cancellations and extensive delays in the following week . Compounding the issue, staffing shortages have severely impacted operations. Reports indicate that only 3 of the required 14 air traffic controllers were on duty during a recent incident at Newark, contributing to multiple communication blackouts . Nationwide, the FAA is approximately 3,000 controllers short of desired levels, with training for new controllers taking nearly four years . The infrastructure supporting our air traffic control is alarmingly outdated. Many systems are over 50 years old, relying on obsolete technology such as copper wiring and even floppy disks . A Government Accountability Office report highlighted that over a third of the FAA’s systems are considered unsustainable, necessitating urgent modernization . These systemic issues have tangible consequences. United Airlines reported that on November 15 alone, air traffic control staffing issues led to canceled flights affecting 1,880 customers, with additional delays impacting over 24,000 passengers . In light of these events, I urge you to: 1. Advocate for immediate funding to modernize air traffic control infrastructure, replacing outdated systems with current technology. 2. Support initiatives to address staffing shortages, including expedited training programs and incentives to retain experienced controllers. 3. Ensure transparency and accountability from the FAA and the Department of Transportation regarding steps taken to rectify these issues. The safety and reliability of our air travel system are paramount. I trust you will take swift action to address these pressing concerns.