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2mo ago

US Aviation Safety Faces Scrutiny Over Staffing Shortages and Aging Infrastructure

Lawmakers and experts highlight critical risks in air traffic control systems, outdated technology, and workforce challenges during House hearing.

A plane flies next to an air traffic control near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 30, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo
The crash site involving an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army helicopter in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January. Six aviation industry leaders appeared before the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday and addressed longstanding issues within the industry, including outdated federal systems and staffing shortages. (New York TImes/Kenny Holston)
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ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 04: The air traffic control tower after the American Airlines crash at the Reagan National Airport on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

Overview

  • A House Aviation Subcommittee hearing revealed significant concerns about the state of U.S. aviation safety, citing outdated infrastructure and severe air traffic controller shortages.
  • Experts testified that 105 of the FAA's 138 air traffic control systems are unsustainable or potentially unsustainable, with many facilities over 60 years old.
  • The January 29 midair collision near Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people, underscored the urgent need for modernization and adequate staffing in the aviation system.
  • The FAA has been criticized for its slow hiring process, while recent firings of FAA employees by the Department of Government Efficiency have raised additional safety concerns.
  • Industry leaders and unions are calling for increased funding, deployment of modern technology, and reforms to hiring and retirement policies to address systemic issues.