Austin News

In a recent Senate Commerce Subcommittee hearing on Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation, Senator Ted Cruz expressed concerns about the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) inability to modernize essential systems. He emphasized the urgent need to upgrade air traffic facilities and radar systems. The hearing was titled “U.S. Air Traffic Control Systems, Personnel and Safety.”

Senator Cruz highlighted the failures of the FAA’s NextGen program and called for discussions on modernizing the U.S. air traffic system. As he prepares to become Chairman of the Commerce Committee in the next Congress, he pledged to prioritize enhancing America's airspace operation efficiency and reliability.

During his remarks, Senator Cruz acknowledged Michael Whitaker's resignation from the FAA effective January 20th, thanking him for his service. Whitaker was confirmed without opposition, reflecting his experience and judgment.

Cruz recalled a significant incident on January 11, 2023, when a nationwide ground stop of air travel occurred due to a technical glitch in the FAA’s NOTAM system. This system delivers crucial safety information to pilots but has not been updated in over a decade. Cruz criticized the focus on changing "Notice to Airmen" to "Notice to Air Missions" instead of modernizing outdated technology.

Following this incident, the FAA reviewed over 100 critical air traffic systems, finding about a third unsustainable. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) discovered that plans were lacking for modernizing 17 systems deemed "most at risk," which Cruz described as unacceptable.

He also pointed out that FAA data shows declining reliability in radar fleets with longer outages and repair times. The United States should lead in aviation technology; however, this is no longer true according to Cruz.

The GAO report criticized decades-long sustainment efforts and funding wasted on projects that quickly became obsolete upon completion. The NextGen project, developed in the early 2000s, largely failed to deliver promised benefits due to slow modernization.

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 addresses NextGen issues by requiring its completion and office closure by year-end. Future modernization projects must present a business case to Congress before commencement.

Cruz questioned whether the current FAA model is suitable for air traffic control given these challenges. He referenced an independent report from November 2023 by the National Airspace System Safety Review Team focused on improving NAS safety and reliability.

Both Administrator Michael Whitaker and experts across political lines agree stakeholders need discussions on future paths forward for aviation technology amid political disruptions.

"The conclusions from the GAO report are numerous," stated Cruz, emphasizing that current modernization methods are inadequate for maintaining leadership in aviation technology globally. He commended air traffic controllers' work but stressed broader conversations are necessary for system modernization.

“The American people deserve an operation that uses its funding wisely," concluded Cruz as he prepares to address these issues further next year as Chairman.