FAA Launches $32.5 Billion Overhaul of U.S. Air Traffic Control System-What to Know

"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is working to overhaul the country's air traffic control system in an effort to reduce outages and improve efficiency. To revamp the old system, the agency put down an initial $12.5 billion and awarded a contract to technology firm Peraton, according to the FAA. The project is ultimately expected to cost an additional $20 billion with the administration's goal to fully implement the new system by the end of 2028."

"The decision to overhaul the system follows air-related incidents, including the fatal mid-air collision in January near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) between an American Eagle Flight and a military helicopter. The FAA also said the old system has resulted in travel disruptions with flight delay minutes due to equipment issues up about 300 percent in 2025 compared to the average from 2010 to 2024."

The FAA is overhauling the country's air traffic control system to reduce outages and improve efficiency. The agency invested an initial $12.5 billion and awarded a contract to Peraton, with the project expected to cost an additional $20 billion and reach full implementation by the end of 2028. The overhaul follows recent air incidents, including a fatal mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport, and a roughly 300 percent increase in flight delay minutes due to equipment issues in 2025 versus the 2010–2024 average. Planned upgrades include replacing radar, software, hardware, and telecommunications networks, establishing a digital command center, transitioning remaining copper to modern fiber, expanding more than 5,000 high-speed network connections across fiber, satellite, and wireless, creating a consolidated Air Route Traffic Control Center, and adding over 100 weather stations in Alaska.

Read at Travel + Leisure