Congress Should Act to Innovate our Air Traffic Control System
Bold leadership and quick action is needed to modernize America’s air traffic control system. The U.S. is almost 3,000 controllers short at a time when we are seeing record air travel volumes and increased reliance on air cargo shipments.
We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make historically meaningful change and address ATC staffing needs, technology upgrades and funding reform that allows certainty for strategic planning of vital capital projects—we welcome any and all viable ideas that will help achieve those goals.
Nicholas E. Calio, President and CEO of A4A, has long encouraged stakeholders to find consensus on building a modern air traffic system. At the Washington Aero Club Luncheon in January 2024, Calio stressed, “More urgency is required… business as usual isn’t cutting it.”
Testifying before Congress in 2025, Calio said, “For over 14 years now, I’ve been saying we are at an inflection point with the NAS, and we all need to act with urgency… I hope this Congress and this Administration will agree that it’s not acceptable to just continue to tolerate a chronically understaffed system.”
A4A Has Advocated For Years Front and Center Urging Action on ATC Innovation
A4A Testimony
March 4, 2025
A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio testifies before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee to urge immediate action on air traffic control staffing, infrastructure and funding.
A4A Letter
February 19, 2025
A4A joins industry coalition to Capitol Hill transportation committees urging investments in a safe, resilient and modernized air traffic control (ATC) system.
A4A White Paper
February 19, 2025
A4A releases its National Airspace Safety Initiative, recommending meaningful steps to ensure a safe and efficient airspace.
A4A Speech
January 17, 2024
A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio appears at the AeroClub Luncheon to stress urgency and government accountability in addressing systemic FAA issues.
A4A Testimony
March 23, 2023
A4A Senior Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Sharon Pinkerton appears before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee and raised ATC staffing and system issues.
A4A Testimony
February 3, 2023
A4A Senior Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Sharon Pinkerton appears before the Senate Commerce Committee and stressed the need for adequate funding and accountability measures for ATC staffing and modernization.
A4A Testimony
September 24, 2019
A4A Senior Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Sharon Pinkerton appears before the Senate Commerce Committee to speak to improving the safety, capacity and efficiency of our ATC system.
A4A Testimony
February 13, 2019
A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio testifies before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee about the impact of a government shutdown on long-term staffing initiatives for air traffic controllers.
A4A Letter
May 23, 2017
A4A sends a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee regarding progress on the FAA’s NextGen implementation.
A4A Statement
February 10, 2016
A4A offers a statement before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure regarding its review of air traffic control reform proposals.
"How is the FAA supposed to attract young talent and compete for jobs when they use technology that most 20-30 years old have never even seen?"
Washington Times
Why Investments in the National Airspace System Matter
May 22, 2024
"Our nation’s air traffic control towers are understaffed and overworked. We owe it to them to ensure they have enough people on the job with...
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Washington Times
Infrastructure in the Skies: Supporting a Modern National Airspace System
May 16, 2023
"The FAA is struggling to maintain and sustain legacy ATC systems while operationalizing modernization priorities consistently lack the attention and investment necessary to truly modernize...
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“It is critical that we put the debates of the past and the inherent political inertia behind us to try to actually all join together to get something done.”
– Nicholas E. Calio, President and CEO of Airlines for America
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