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Radar screens at Newark Liberty International Airport went dark early Friday (May 9), causing disruptions in air traffic. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported the outage occurred at 3:55 a.m., affecting communication with incoming flights, including a FedEx plane and a private jet from Cyprus. As a result, at least two dozen flights were canceled or delayed by 6 a.m.
The incident highlights ongoing issues with the outdated air traffic control (ATC) system. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced plans to modernize the system, aiming to replace old telecommunications with new fiber, wireless, and satellite technologies, and build new air traffic control centers. Duffy emphasized the urgent need for upgrades, noting that current equipment relies on outdated technology like floppy disks. He hopes to have the new system operational within three to four years, with an estimated cost of billions of dollars.
The outage at Newark is not an isolated incident. Similar issues have plagued the airport since April 28, when a radar and radio communication failure at the Philadelphia facility managing Newark's air traffic led to significant disruptions. The FAA has implemented measures to manage congestion, including ground delay programs, but challenges remain due to staffing shortages and ongoing runway construction.
The FAA plans to add high-bandwidth telecommunications connections and establish a new radar data processing facility in Philadelphia to improve reliability. However, boosting staffing at the Philadelphia facility is also crucial, as it currently has 22 fully certified controllers and 21 in training.
President Donald Trump has expressed support for the modernization efforts, promising a "complete rebuilding" of the ATC system. The administration's budget proposal includes significant funding for these upgrades, but the plan faces challenges due to leadership changes and uncertainties within the FAA.