The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has enlisted the expertise of SpaceX to revamp its air traffic control system following a tragic air disaster in Washington, DC. The incident, which occurred in January, involved a catastrophic midair collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport, resulting in the deaths of all 67 passengers on board. This tragedy prompted the FAA to conduct an extensive investigation into its systems.
In response to the disaster, the FAA has laid off hundreds of employees from their air traffic control infrastructure at the Command Center in Virginia. The exact number of employees dismissed was not disclosed. This restructuring comes amid ongoing probes into SpaceX's operations by the FAA, which have persisted for several years. Notably, SpaceX faced an investigation last year when the Falcon 9 incident temporarily suspended its license, a situation that was swiftly resolved by the company.
FAA Secretary Sean Duffy announced that SpaceX personnel will visit the Air Traffic Control Command Center in Virginia as a first step in this collaborative effort. Their mission is to learn about the current processes and assist in developing a more modern and secure system. While SpaceX's expertise primarily lies in spaceflights for rockets rather than aerial flights for commercial, private, or military planes, the company has been appointed to aid in overhauling the FAA's air traffic control systems.
The decision to involve SpaceX underscores the FAA's commitment to enhancing safety measures and modernizing its operations following the January disaster and subsequent staff reductions. The collaboration aims to implement a system that ensures greater safety and efficiency in managing air traffic.
