Additional Coverage:
- ‘Everybody’s worst nightmare’: Air traffic controllers say outages have become too frequent (nbcnews.com)
Near-Misses in NJ Skies Spark Calls for FAA Overhaul
Just ten days after a harrowing equipment malfunction left a dozen planes flying blind over New Jersey, air traffic controllers and pilots are demanding action from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The 90-second outage on April 28th highlighted critical vulnerabilities in the aging air traffic control system, raising serious concerns about safety in one of the nation’s busiest airspaces.
A recently retired controller, who worked alongside the Newark Liberty International Airport team, revealed that controllers operate in constant fear of system failures. The April 28th incident saw both radar and radio communications fail simultaneously, a scenario described as “everyone’s worst nightmare.”
This isn’t an isolated incident. Reports indicate recurring radar outages and near-weekly loss of radio contact with approaching aircraft.
One controller recalled frantic shouts of “We’ve lost the frequencies!” as planes converged without communication.
The current crisis stems from a 2022 FAA decision to relocate Newark’s air traffic control from Long Island to Philadelphia. Intended to alleviate workload strain on the Long Island facility, the move has been plagued with technical issues. According to sources, radar and frequency problems have become commonplace since the transition.
The strain on controllers is immense. Working 10-hour days, six days a week, with unreliable equipment has pushed them to the brink.
One controller, speaking anonymously, revealed that similar technological breakdowns have occurred at least twice since August, with radio contact lost eight or nine times in recent months. They claim the FAA has long been aware of these issues but failed to act.
The pressure isn’t limited to controllers. During outages, pilots bear the responsibility of averting disaster.
Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, echoed calls for immediate action to address outdated technology and staffing shortages. While Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy downplayed the risk of collision, citing pilots’ communication devices and visual awareness, the reality on the ground paints a different picture.
Though airlines insist on rigorous pilot training for such scenarios, the inherent risks of communication breakdowns remain. Experts agree that while established protocols mitigate the likelihood of crashes, the potential for disaster increases with the duration of the outage.
Adding to the concerns, the Philadelphia facility’s backup systems have reportedly failed during recent outages, leaving controllers with no information on aircraft position, altitude, or speed. The FAA has attributed the April 28th outage to a failure in the copper wiring transmitting radar data.
Following the incident, the FAA announced plans to upgrade to fiber-optic technology and increase staffing at the Philadelphia facility, including the addition of controller trainees. They also plan to implement a temporary backup radar system.
However, for controllers working under immense pressure, these measures may be too little, too late. They continue to call for a comprehensive overhaul of the system, emphasizing the urgent need for reliable technology to ensure the safety of the flying public.