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 an accelerated pace for modernizing the FAA's aging computer systems after the January 11 NOTAM system crash caused a nationwide groundstop affecting 11,000 flights.
The incident prompted Congress to pass the NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023, establishing a task force to review and reform the system, with Buttigieg advocating for "wholesale system modernization" beyond just NOTAM.
The FAA faces additional scrutiny for its systemic vulnerabilities, including a lack of permanent leadership and numerous vacant positions, which critics argue contribute to the agency's challenges.

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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.