With numerous air traffic control outages causing chaos for travelers, the FAA’s antiquated technology at Newark Liberty International Airport is causing dangerous conditions in American skies. These breakdowns in communication highlight how Biden’s administration has neglected vital infrastructure requirements, endangering American lives as travelers deal with an increasing number of cancellations and delays.
Government Failures Putting American Lives at Risk
Newark Liberty International Airport has experienced multiple air traffic control outages, with controllers losing contact with planes for the fourth time in less than a month. The situation has become so dire that the FAA has been forced to cap the number of flights at Newark to ease congestion, directly impacting thousands of American travelers.
Any HONEST person knows the FAA has been messed up for decades and at fault for ALL administrations. Finally at least Trump now learned and is helping to fix it:
This is the last administration failures:
Notable Air Traffic Control Outages and Incidents (2021–2025):
* January…— Christiaan Stoudt (@cstoudt) May 12, 2025
These dangerous conditions stem from the FAA’s continued reliance on 1980s-vintage communication technology that the private industry abandoned over a decade ago. The outdated STARS system uses “time-division multiplexing” data patched with “pseudowire,” creating a digital house of cards that repeatedly collapses and leaves air traffic controllers with blank screens and broken communication lines.
Maybe before renaming the Gulf of Mexico or conquering Greenland, we should make sure that domestic flights are safe.
Making sure that parts don't need to be bought on eBay would be a great place to start.
────────────US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said… pic.twitter.com/G92ZI1llqh
— US Ship of State (@US_ShipOfState) May 11, 2025
Newark’s runway refurbishment has compounded these problems by reducing flight capacity at one of America’s busiest airports. The Philadelphia TRACON facility, which guides planes in and out of Newark, is operating at just 70 percent staffing capacity, with only 22 controllers certified to guide planes in and out of the airport when they need far more.
Critical Staffing Shortages Creating Air Safety Crisis
The staffing situation has reached crisis levels, with reports indicating that only three air traffic controllers were scheduled on Monday evening at the Philadelphia facility. This facility requires a target of 14 controllers for that shift, creating a dangerous gap in our nation’s air safety system.
Air traffic control facilities across the United States are critically understaffed, with an alarming 99% operating below recommended levels. While the FAA plans to hire 2,000 controllers, high retirement and resignation rates pose significant challenges to maintaining adequate staffing levels for our nation’s airspace.
The dangers extend far beyond Newark, with similar incidents and close calls occurring at other airports nationwide. Communication breakdowns in Denver and runway close calls at LaGuardia and Chicago Midway highlight the systemic nature of these failures, creating a pattern of risk for American air travelers.
America Needs Market Solutions to Broken Government Systems
Over 80 countries have adopted air traffic control systems as public utilities funded by user fees, unlike the U.S. system, which suffers from understaffing, outdated technology, and insufficient oversight. The rest of the world has moved forward with modern air traffic systems, while American travelers face increasing delays and safety risks due to government mismanagement.
“Almost all of these communication lapses result from this 1980s vintage communication technology that the FAA is still running. It has not been used in the private sector for over a decade. And the telcos are ceasing to support this communication technology. We have all been in the situation where we receive a notification that we need to update our phone or an app, or it will stop working. The FAA has been receiving update notifications for several years, but they have not had the budget to update the system.”
The federal technology acquisition process is fundamentally broken. Systems are updated approximately every 40 years. When new technology is finally installed, it’s typically over budget, behind schedule, and outdated, creating a perpetual cycle of technological inadequacy in our nation’s critical infrastructure.
An anonymous air traffic controller has expressed serious concerns about safety at Newark, suggesting the potential risk of a fatal crash if these issues aren’t addressed. The FAA maintains that safety is its top priority, but it has achieved this only by reducing efficiency, leading to more delays and cancellations that burden American travelers and businesses.
Sources:
https://reason.com/2025/05/21/the-3-faa-failures-creating-a-dangerous-mess-in-the-skies/