ALPA Urges Congress to Keep ATC Modernization on Track With $30 Billion Investment

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA) issued the following statement supporting Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s request for an additional $30 billion to continue modernizing the nation's air traffic control system, airport towers, terminals, and infrastructure.

"Airline pilots are flying 21st-century airplanes through a 20th-century air traffic control system. From the flightdeck, we've watched that system fall behind for decades. Ask any pilot what it's like when the frequency goes quiet, or when a cut cable stops traffic at some of the busiest airports in the country.

"Our airplanes can navigate to within feet using satellites, and our flightdecks run on digital data. But in too many places, the ground side of the system still runs on copper wire, aging radios, and paper flight strips.

"The good news is that the first round of funding is already making a difference. Fiber is replacing copper, radios are going digital, and dozens of airports have new tools to keep aircraft safe on the ground. That investment is helping pilots keep air travel safe in the air and in the airport environment.

"Congress was clear that the first $12.5 billion was a down payment. Systems this old don't get replaced cheaply or overnight. The next $30 billion is just as important. It pays for new towers and facilities, and for modern tools built to handle today's traffic. If we stop now, we'll be stuck running new equipment alongside legacy systems that were never built for it.

"We remember how past modernization efforts went, which is why we'll keep pushing for strong oversight, and why pilots and controllers, as the frontline users, must have a say in how this gets built.

"Every day, pilots trust a voice on the frequency that belongs to a controller we'll likely never meet. That trust runs both ways. It's why airline pilots, air traffic controllers, and our aviation partners stand united in protecting everyone who uses our airspace and in moving this effort forward to keep the United States the leader in aviation. The down payment's been made. Now let's finish the job."

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 80,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org or follow us @ALPAPilots on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Contact: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org.