DOT ‘Ready to Brief’ Trump on Brand New ATC System Integrator

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the selection of a lead contractor is imminent.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 03:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Air traffic control tower at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is nearing the selection of a private "prime integrator" to lead the FAA's multi-billion dollar Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) modernization effort.
This overhaul is crucial to replace outdated infrastructure, address frequent system outages, and improve safety following recent incidents and close calls.
The chosen integrator will manage all technical and managerial aspects of the project, though it faces challenges including securing full funding and overcoming congressional skepticism due to past modernization failures like NextGen.

See a mistake? Contact us.

FAA administrator Bryan Bedford said Wednesday that the Department of Transportation (DOT) is close to picking a prime integrator—essentially a general contractor—to lead the agency’s Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) effort.

Unlike previous efforts such as NextGen, The BNATCS plan—which aims to modernize the country’s ATC systems with infrastructure upgrades and new facilities—will rely on a private company to oversee both technical and managerial responsibilities. Bedford said the hope is for the integrator to “get on board and take our plan and make it even better.”