US transportation secretary Sean Duffy has warned of a “crisis” in America’s air traffic control system, which is grappling with outdated equipment, severe staffing shortages and a series of high-profile failures, including deadly accidents and repeated outages.Speaking before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Thursday, Duffy revealed that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is so reliant on antiquated systems that it has resorted to searching for replacement parts on eBay and even 3D printing some components. “Sometimes, we can’t even buy it on eBay, so we’re trying to use 3D printing,” Duffy said, as per CBS News.The crisis has come under intense scrutiny following a fatal midair collision in January between a commercial jet and an Army helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport that killed 67 people, according to WCHSTV. Additionally, equipment outages at the FAA facility responsible for Newark Liberty International Airport, along with similar issues in Denver and Atlanta, have caused severe flight disruptions. According to CBS News, Newark had just three controllers on duty at one point, compared to the target staffing of 14.Duffy insisted that “the system we currently use… is 25, 35, 40 years old in some places. We’ve let it age, and now we’re seeing the cracks play out in real time.” He urged lawmakers to support the Trump administration’s proposed multi-billion-dollar overhaul of the system, which includes replacing hundreds of radars, new telecommunications infrastructure, and over a dozen new control towers.The Government Accountability Office has already found that 76% of the FAA’s 138 control systems are unsustainable or potentially unsustainable.Despite concerns, Duffy stressed that air travel remains safe thanks to “multiple redundancies.” However, he conceded that delays and system malfunctions, like the 90-second communications blackout in Denver earlier this week, highlight just how fragile the current infrastructure is.Duffy also addressed criticism over recent layoffs, clarifying that while probationary staff were let go as part of broader federal workforce reductions, no air traffic controllers were cut. “We’ve been hiring air traffic controllers as quickly as we can,” he said, pushing back against concerns from Democrats like Sen Patty Murray, who criticised reports of mistaken buyout emails sent to FAA staff.To address the shortfall of 3,000 controllers, the department of transportation has implemented measures like expedited medical testing and retention bonuses for experienced personnel.As Rep Rick Larsen told the House during a related hearing, “The safety of the traveling public cannot continue being put at risk… We need action now.” The FAA is currently in talks with airlines to possibly reduce flights out of Newark, which has seen over 140 cancellations on Thursday alone, amid ongoing staffing challenges.
