Senators Demand FAA Explain Repeated NOTAM Outages
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has formally pressed the Federal Aviation Administration to explain two recent multi‑hour outages of the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) system and to report on the long‑overdue upgrade of the critical safety platform. In a letter dated April 9, 2025, Senator Amy Klobuchar joined Senators Shelley Moore Capito, Jerry Moran and Tammy Duckworth, along with Representatives Pete Stauber and Mark DeSaulnier, in requesting detailed information on the causes of the February 1 and March 22 disruptions, as well as the FAA’s progress on a mandated modernization plan.
“Pilots rely on the NOTAM system to remain aware of safety hazards on flight routes,” the lawmakers wrote. “This system is critical to the safety of the nearly three million passengers who fly over the U.S. every day.” The letter, obtained by AeroTime, demands that the agency outline immediate steps to prevent future outages and provide a timeline for completing the primary system upgrade that has been delayed beyond its September 2024 deadline.
The NOTAM Improvement Act, championed in 2023 by Senators Klobuchar, Moran, Capito, Stauber and DeSaulnier, requires the FAA to establish a task force to increase the resiliency and cybersecurity of the NOTAM network. It also mandated a fully operational backup system by September 2024 and the modernization of the primary infrastructure. While the agency implemented a backup platform in July 2024, the congressionally directed overhaul of the main NOTAM database remains unfinished, according to the lawmakers’ letter.
“What caused the recent NOTAM outages?” the members of Congress asked. “What steps is the FAA taking to mitigate future outages?” They urged the FAA to provide clear answers within 14 days, underscoring the urgency of restoring confidence in the system that alerts pilots to everything from runway closures and airspace restrictions to wildlife hazards and in‑flight equipment failures.
In an unrelated personnel announcement, the FAA revealed that Tim Arel, who has led the agency’s Air Traffic Organization for 40 years, will retire early under a second round of Department of Transportation buyouts. The program, initiated by the Trump administration to reduce federal headcount, offers incentives to senior staff to leave ahead of schedule. While Arel’s departure marks the end of a long career in air traffic management, lawmakers worry that leadership turnover could further complicate efforts to stabilize the NOTAM system.
Industry stakeholders have voiced concerns that repeated NOTAM disruptions, coupled with the drawn‑out upgrade process, expose a critical vulnerability in the national airspace system. Pilot unions and airline safety officers have called on the FAA to accelerate its modernization schedule and to conduct a transparent after‑action review of the recent outages. FAA officials have yet to publicly disclose detailed failure analyses, citing ongoing investigations.
As the busy summer travel season approaches, the stakes are high. Airlines depend on real‑time NOTAM data to file flight plans, reroute around hazards and ensure on‑time performance. Without a reliable NOTAM service, flight crews must resort to manual notifications, telephone briefings and contingency planning, risking delays and increased workload during already hectic operations.
By demanding both an explanation for the outages and a firm commitment to completing the primary system upgrade, the bipartisan group of senators and representatives aims to hold the FAA accountable and to safeguard the air travel system. Their letter reflects growing impatience on Capitol Hill as travelers and industry partners await a more resilient NOTAM network. With flight volumes expected to exceed pre‑pandemic levels this summer, lawmakers insist that the FAA deliver swift answers and concrete progress—or risk undermining public trust in the nation’s aviation infrastructure.
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