FAA’s Bedford Provides Glimpse into U.S. Air Traffic Control’s Future | Aviation International News

FAA’s Bedford Provides Glimpse into U.S. ATC’s Future

More seamless, ‘quieter’ system in the works

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford — FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford addressed a range of issues, including ATC and safety, before the Aero Club of Washington, D.C. © Kerry Lynch/AIN

By Kerry Lynch • Editor, AIN monthly magazine

January 22, 2026

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford provided a deeper look at the “brand new” air traffic control (ATC) system that the agency is striving for, outlining a network that is quieter, more seamless, and more efficient for a pilot.

“From a pilot’s perspective, I think they’re going to have much greater precision about their flight trajectories as they’re navigating through the airspace,” Bedford told attendees at the monthly Aero Club of Washington, D.C., luncheon on Wednesday. “It should be much quieter from coast to coast because we should require much fewer handoffs as you move through the system.”

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