Buttigieg: Urgency Needed on FAA Modernization

The Transportation Secretary's comments come weeks after the FAA’s NOTAM system crashed.

Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 04:29 PM ET

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"We're working to make sure we can accelerate the NOTAM modernization," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told Reuters. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urged the government to accelerate the modernization of the FAA's computer systems, specifically following the January 11 nationwide groundstop caused by a NOTAM system crash.
The incident, which affected 11,000 flights, highlighted the significant vulnerability of the FAA's aging infrastructure and prompted the U.S. House to pass the NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023.
Buttigieg emphasizes the need for wholesale system modernization beyond just the NOTAM system, seeking funding to prevent future "whack-a-mole" problems with different systems.
The FAA also faces broader challenges, including a lack of permanent leadership and numerous vacant positions, which congressional critics argue contribute to the agency's operational issues.

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As Congressional hearings are underway regarding the upcoming FAA reauthorization bill, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urged the government to “pick up the pace” when it comes to modernizing the FAA’s computer systems.

Buttigieg’s remarks come weeks after the January 11 nationwide groundstop—the first since 9/11—that affected 11,000 flights across the country. Due to a mishap made by a contractor performing routine maintenance, the FAA’s notice to air missions (NOTAM) system crashed and became inoperative as crews could not access vital flight data such as runway use, airport closures, weather, or restricted airspace.