US transportation secretary announces ATM overhaul in response to NTSB report on Washington crash
March 13, 2025
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has responded to the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) preliminary report on the recent crash near Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C., vowing swift action to upgrade the country’s aging air traffic management (ATM) system.
Duffy acknowledged critical concerns raised by the NTSB in their preliminary report regarding the coexistence of helicopters and landing aircraft within the same airspace, particularly over the corridor from Hains Point to the Wilson Bridge near Runway 33 at DCA. The NTSB has recommended that helicopter traffic be banned from a four-mile stretch over the Potomac River when flights are landing at DCA. In response, Duffy agreed to adopt the recommendation saying “we aer threading the needle” allowing helicopters to fly down the same airspace as landing aircraft. He also confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will continue to impose airspace restrictions in this region. Restrictions have already been in place he added since 36 hours after the crash occurred. A Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) will outline specific flight guidelines, with exemptions for presidential, vice-presidential and life-saving missions, while military aircraft will be rerouted around the restricted airspace.
Duffy referenced alarming statistics highlighted by NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, which revealed that a review of IFR commercial operations at DCA between October 2021 and December 2024 found 85 near-miss incidents have occurred, with aircraft coming within 200 feet of vertical separation and 1,500 feet of lateral separation. “How did the FAA not know and study this data to say this as a hotspot sooner?” Duffy questioned, calling for a renewed focus on airspace safety.
He also emphasised the administration’s commitment to aviation safety, announcing that the FAA has already deployed artificial intelligence (AI) tools to analyse air traffic data and identify high-risk areas at airports nationwide. These tools, he said, will help detect potential safety issues before incidents occur.
Modernising an antiquated system
Duffy also addressed broader concerns about the state of the US air traffic control (ATC) system, describing it as outdated and in need of urgent investment. “We are operating on 25- to 30-year-old technology—floppy disks and headphone jacks that have to be plugged and unplugged.” Describing the system as “old, but safe,” he reiterated “It urgently needs upgrading, and we are committed to making it happen.”
The secretary outlined an ambitious plan to modernise air traffic management, aiming for a complete overhaul within four years. The initiative includes replacing copper wiring with fibre-optic and wireless connections, updating radar systems dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, and equipping air traffic control towers with state-of-the-art technology. The plan also includes new ground radar sensors at airports, eliminating the reliance on binoculars for tracking aircraft movements.
“We will greatly improve safety and efficiency in American air travel—reducing delays and cancellations—while ensuring our controllers have the best tools available,” Duffy stated.
Implementation challenges
While acknowledging the high cost of the upgrades, which Duffy expects to reach tens of billions of dollars, he also stressed the need for swift implementation. “We are in a cost-cutting environment, but that doesn’t mean we ignore critical investments.” He plans to present a comprehensive plan and funding request to congress in the coming weeks to expedite the process.
Duffy defended his decision to extend the projected timeline for the ATM system upgrade from a previously declared 18 months to four years, citing the need to “do it right and completely, not partially.” He also called for collaboration with top engineers and aviation experts to implement a robust, future-proof system at pace.
“This is a pivotal moment,” Duffy concluded. “We must honour the lives lost by taking decisive action to prevent future tragedies. The entire industry is behind us, and we will get this done.”
