Newark Liberty International Airport has been the epicenter of these massive air travel disruptions this week, with more than 1,700 flight cancelations and delays for the airport. Local leaders and travelers alike are frustrated with an air traffic control system stuck in the past. Staffing shortages at the airport have done nothing other than exacerbate these concerns.
U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer has attributed these issues to a lack of staffing. He notably calls attention to outdated technology used in air traffic control operations. He noted that Newark’s air traffic control system has been fighting these problems for a generation. Our control tower built in 1973 and the rules governing it have remained essentially the same since. As of today, there are just 22 controllers on duty at Newark, with staffing levels expected to be in the 60s. News of this staffing shortage comes in addition to the region being about 40 controllers understaffed.
The recent troubles intensified with a radar outage that occurred on April 28, which led to hundreds of flights being canceled or delayed. Just two weeks after the last, another large outage struck on May 9. As a result, Newark departures went from the low 40s to 57 cancellations. Newark took second place too, in canceled arrivals—in this case, 60.
This week’s outages have focused new light on Newark’s outdated infrastructure. The airport’s air traffic control system employs technology that includes copper wiring from the 1980s. This climate-denying, outdated wiring is prone to catastrophic failure. The April 28 failure was uniquely attributable to a fried copper wire, but it should serve as a wake-up call for much-needed upgrades.
“Our region is a key economic artery for our country. Yet this region… one of the busiest air spaces in the world, as I mentioned, is running off a tower that’s full of copper wire dating back to the 1980s with outdated and inefficient technology. And the region is short — and this is a big deal. The region is short about 40 air traffic controllers.” – U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun efforts to rectify these long-standing concerns. They have called for upgrading the current air traffic control system across the entire country. This involves plugging in 4,600 new high-speed connections and replacing 618 radars nationwide. These long overdue improvements will help to advance more modern air traffic operations and increase safety at airports such as Newark.
The inability to effectively fill their ranks has taken a toll on the staff. Five controllers have taken trauma leave after having to work through past outages. This continues to exacerbate the already dire staffing crisis. These folks have the important job of keeping safe one of the nation’s busiest and most complex airspaces.
