ATC
Modern Skies Coalition Urges $20B More for ATC Upgrades
Funds would build on $12.5 billion approved last year
Controllers work inside a control tower
A coalition of more than 50 aviation groups sent congressional leaders a letter citing progress on ATC modernization while urging $20 billion more in funding. © FAA

More funds are needed for the Brand-New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) initiative, say members of the Modern Skies Coalition. In a joint letter, founding coalition member AOPA and more than 50 other aviation organizations wrote congressional leaders requesting an additional $20 billion for upgrades.

The letter noted that controllers currently rely on different automation platforms depending on the airspace, and that the FAA has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on required “refreshes” of aging systems developed decades ago. A new common automation platform is estimated to cost $10 billion.

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