Air Traffic Control: Newark Airport Chaos Reveals U.S. Deep Space Traffic Crisis – Aging Systems, Controller Shortages, Delays

Newark Liberty International Airport faces severe damage after a 90-second communication outage caused by copper explosion last week. The disruption affected air traffic controllers and triggered a wave of delays, cancellations and fears about the safety of the U.S. air traffic system.Industry insiders warn that Newark’s trouble is just a sign of a crisis crisis. Former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official revealed that the country's air traffic control system faces nearly 1,000 equipment failures per week. The shocking number of failures is related to the shortage of technology, copper wires and trained controllers in the 1980s and 1990s.
David Grizzle, former head of the FAA's air traffic organization, told the New York Post that the U.S. is fixing the plane nationwide to ensure everything is safe. He added that the delays and cancellations needed to maintain operations are shrinking.

FAA has fewer controllers than in 2012

According to reports, the FAA currently has about 10,800 certified controllers (1,000 fewer than in 2012), and they oversee 50,000 flights per day in 300 air traffic control centers. Some facilities, such as Traken Center in Philadelphia, have only 22 certified professionals.

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy promised a major overhaul after the power outage last week. The program reportedly includes recruiting drivers, introducing cutting-edge technology, replacing old copper wires with fiber optic wires, and consolidating more than 20 control centers into five or six state-of-the-art hubs.

Congress is under pressure to approve at least $4.75 billion in funding to upgrade the telecommunications system. Some insiders have been reportedly pushing for a larger $30 billion plan to address deeper problems.

The impact of infrastructure crashes on travelers

But, the impact on travelers who have collapsed infrastructure has been seen. Newark's largest airline, United Airlines, cuts 35 round trips a day in the hub. Hundreds of flights are delayed or cancelled every day this week. Passengers have been rebooking through LaGuardia in New York or Philadelphia to avoid confusion.

Newark incident may affect national aviation systems

Experts warn that Newark’s problems will not only affect local traffic, but also the entire national air system, as the airspace is one of the most critical and crowded spaces in the country. Actual ID requirements will also take effect this week, which increases passenger pressure.

Nicholas Calio said that the FAA has been patching old systems for years and modern aviation networks cannot run on notes and floppy disks.

The Government Accountability Office recently found that one quarter of the FAA's main systems are unsustainable, raising long-term questions about safety, efficiency and the United States' global position in aviation.

FAQ:

Question 1: What causes the power outage at Newark Airport?
A fried copper wire caused a 90-second communication failure, delaying the air traffic control function and prompting mass flight delays and cancellations.

Question 2: Is the national air traffic control situation serious?
The FAA faces nearly 1,000 equipment failures every week because of old technology, copper wires and insufficient staffing that harm air travel safety.