In late 2021, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed into effect. The law aims to address a host of infrastructure problems in the United States including transportation. As a result, the US has allocated $5 billion to the Federal Aviation Administration to invest in America’s air traffic control system.
The FAA’s air traffic control system uses hundreds of towers at airports and terminal approach control facilities, as well as 22 high altitude aircraft control centers, to manage and oversee over 5 million square miles of airspace in the United States and more than 24 million square miles overseas. This system is imperative for every flight that takes place across our airspace to occur safely and efficiently.
According to the FAA’s Deputy Administrator, Bradley Mims, the nation’s air traffic control system will need a “great deal of work” in order to reduce the “backlog of sustainment work, upgrades, and replacement of buildings and equipment needed to operate our nation’s airspace safely.”
As aviation industry professionals we are thankful to see this much-needed funding allocated for the system that is vital to our nation’s aviation safety. In addition to improving our air control system, the funding also creates jobs across the US for years to come. Recently, the FAA announced that they had begun investing the first $1 billion of the funding. The first billion is planned to fund projects such as:
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Replacing towers. The funding will pay for the design, site evaluation, and preparation for the first air traffic control towers that will be replaced over the coming years. This includes many small and regional airports.
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Improving towers and approach and departure facilities. Over half of these facilities are over 50 years old. Funding will be allocated to buy new elevators, fix plumbing issues, and support infrastructure.
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Reinforcing weather, tracking, and navigation systems. The FAA will complete a backlog of sustainment projects to keep these systems reliable.
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Renovating or replacing supporting infrastructure at long-range radar facilities.
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Updating and repairing each of the FAA’s 22 Air Route Traffic Control Centers.
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Upgrading security systems at all FAA-staffed facilities.
Other plans for the first billion in funding include $24 million to invest in workers to modernize facilities for personnel and travel. $58.8 million is allocated to environmental safety by removing and restoring areas where outdated facilities are located or infrastructure is no longer needed. Environmental safety improvements will also be incorporated as the air traffic control system is updated.
For more detailed information on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and how the first billion of the $5 billion funding will be allocated, click here.
