Air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport are experiencing critical system failures that put travelers at risk, while the federal government struggles with infrastructure upgrades that are decades overdue.

At a Glance

• Newark Liberty has experienced four air traffic control outages in less than a month, causing significant flight delays and cancellations
• The FAA is now capping flights at Newark to manage the crisis while working on equipment upgrades
• 99% of air traffic control facilities nationwide are operating below recommended staffing levels
• Controllers are using 1980s-era telecommunications technology that telephone companies have largely stopped supporting
• Critics suggest the air traffic control system should be separated from the FAA and operated as a public utility

Critical Infrastructure Failures

Newark Liberty International Airport’s air traffic control system has suffered four communication outages in less than a month, creating dangerous conditions in one of America’s busiest airspaces. These failures have forced controllers to lose contact with aircraft multiple times, causing cascading delays and cancellations that have frustrated thousands of travelers. The situation has become so severe that the Federal Aviation Administration recently announced plans to cap the number of flights at Newark to reduce congestion while they address the underlying problems.

The problems at Newark are compounded by the simultaneous refurbishment of one of the airport’s key runways, which has further reduced capacity. This combination of technical failures and infrastructure limitations has created a perfect storm of disruption. The nearby Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility, which helps manage Newark’s traffic, is operating with severe staffing shortages that worsen the situation. According to reports, only 22 controllers are certified to guide planes in and out of Newark, far below necessary levels.

Maybe before renaming the Gulf of Mexico or conquering Greenland, we should make sure that domestic flights are safe.

Making sure that parts don't need to be bought on eBay would be a great place to start.
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US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said… pic.twitter.com/G92ZI1llqh

— US Ship of State (@US_ShipOfState) May 11, 2025

Outdated Technology and Staffing Crisis

At the heart of Newark’s problems is the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) that controllers use to track aircraft. This system relies on obsolete “time-division multiplexing” data transmission technology from the 1980s that major telecommunications companies have largely abandoned. When these systems fail, controllers experience lost communications and blank radar screens, creating dangerous situations for aircraft in flight. The FAA has not publicly disclosed all known vulnerabilities in this critical system.

“Almost all of these communication lapses are the result of this 1980s vintage communication technology that the FAA is still running. It’s not been used in the private sector for over a decade. And the telcos are ceasing to support this communication technology. We have all been in the situation of where we receive a notification that we need to update our phone or an app or it will stop working. Well, the FAA has been receiving update notifications for a number of years, but they have not had the budget in order to actually update the system.”, said David Grizzle.

The staffing situation at Philadelphia TRACON is equally concerning. The facility is operating at approximately 70 percent of required staffing levels. Reports indicate that during one recent evening shift, only three controllers were scheduled when the target was 14 personnel. This understaffing forces controllers to work longer hours with fewer breaks, increasing the risk of fatigue-related errors. The FAA plans to hire 2,000 new controllers nationwide, but high retirement rates and lengthy training requirements mean relief may not arrive for years.

Any HONEST person knows the FAA has been messed up for decades and at fault for ALL administrations. Finally at least Trump now learned and is helping to fix it:

This is the last administration failures:

Notable Air Traffic Control Outages and Incidents (2021–2025):
* January…

— Christiaan Stoudt (@cstoudt) May 12, 2025

Proposed Solutions and Reform

The FAA has announced plans to update its communications infrastructure with new high-bandwidth connections and improved STARS equipment, aiming for completion by year’s end. However, critics point to the federal government’s slow technology acquisition process as a fundamental obstacle.

The current approach typically results in systems that are over budget, behind schedule, and outdated before installation is complete. The FAA oversees 50,000 flights daily with technology that belongs in a museum.

“The systems that they are using are the very best systems of the 1980s. Part of the problem is the way that the federal government acquires new technology. They do it about every 40 years, which means that when they do in fact install new technology, it’s over budget, behind schedule, and is outmoded by the time they actually install it.”, added Grizzle.

A more ambitious reform proposal suggests separating air traffic control operations from the FAA’s safety regulation function. Over 80 countries have adopted models where air traffic control operates as a public utility funded by user fees rather than as a government agency dependent on congressional appropriations.

Advocates argue this structure would provide more consistent funding, faster technology upgrades, and better oversight. Until fundamental reforms are implemented, travelers through Newark and other major airports may continue facing delays and safety concerns from an air traffic system struggling to maintain 21st-century operations with 20th-century technology.