FAA Chief Warns of ‘Obsolescence’ in U.S. Air Traffic Control System

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford is calling for urgent modernization of America’s air traffic control system, warning that outdated technology is “failing every day.” Speaking during a fireside chat with the Commercial Drone Alliance on Sept. 8, Bedford stressed that the National Airspace System (NAS) operates on a decade-long upgrade cycle comparable to Boeing and Airbus aircraft—but needs to evolve more like consumer tech, such as Apple’s iPad, with annual improvements.

Bedford described recurring failures in the current infrastructure, citing broken circuits, cut lines, corroding copper wiring, and obsolete switches that can no longer be manufactured. “There’s just all this obsolescence built into the system,” he said, noting that users, industry, government, and the public finally appear aligned on the urgency of reform.

The FAA recently launched a search for an outside integrator to help modernize its antiquated network of roughly 4,500 analog facilities. The goal is to transition toward fewer, fully digital facilities while avoiding disruptions to critical operations. Responses to the solicitation are due Sept. 21.

Bedford emphasized that the NAS contributes 5–6% of U.S. GDP through airlines, cargo, launches, and other activities, underscoring its role as a “critical national resource.” Still, he admitted the FAA lags behind industry innovations: “We iterate on about a decade-long cycle, and we need to move to more of an annual speed of modernization.”

The FAA chief also acknowledged the strain on the agency as it juggles Boeing oversight, a $12.5 billion overhaul of the air traffic system, and new rules for drones, supersonic aircraft, and certification processes. Bedford argued that hiring an integrator will help identify stress points and accelerate changes smartly while ensuring safety.

His comments came amid heightened scrutiny following a deadly January mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people, raising fresh concerns about FAA oversight and the resilience of the nation’s aviation infrastructure.

Beyond air traffic modernization, Bedford addressed the FAA’s proposed drone rule, which aims to establish a framework for package delivery, aerial surveying, recreation, and testing. He admitted the draft is imperfect but urged industry feedback before the Oct. 6 comment deadline: “Perfect is the enemy of the good. Let’s try to get a good rule out, and then we can iterate from there.”

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios also backed the rule, calling it “critical to unleashing this technology” and highlighting its potential in fields from pipeline inspections to healthcare.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, fedscoop.com