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A House subcommittee is set to examine critical issues plaguing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during a Tuesday hearing, focusing on the ongoing air traffic controller shortage and significant technological challenges facing the agency.

The hearing comes amid heightened concerns following recent aviation incidents, including a near-miss involving a Southwest Airlines aircraft at Chicago Midway and a fatal collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet that claimed 67 lives on January 29.

The FAA currently faces a significant staffing crisis, operating with approximately 3,500 fewer fully certified air traffic controllers than required, representing a 10% decrease from 2012 levels.

“These dedicated professionals continue to work short-staffed, often six days a week, 10 hours a day for years at a time, using outdated equipment and in run-down facilities that are in many cases more than 60 years old,” National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels said in written testimony for Tuesday’s hearing.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently announced plans for immediate action to increase recruitment and address infrastructure concerns.

The situation has become so dire that the Government Accountability Office issued a September warning calling for “urgent action” to tackle aging air traffic control systems, with one-third deemed unsustainable.

According to NATCA, 4,600 FAA facilities require transition from outdated wiring systems to prevent major service disruptions.

“Any discontinuation or disruption to the existing copper wire services without first transitioning to fiber optic services would lead to potential safety risks and/or significant delays in air traffic services,” Daniels said.

The FAA’s current infrastructure challenges include monthly expenditures of $7 million to maintain copper wire systems while lacking funds for fiber optic upgrades. Additionally, the agency needs $500 million to replace its struggling NOTAM pilot-messaging system.

Recent discussions about FAA telecommunications have centered on the possibility of the agency terminating its $2.4 billion, 15-year Verizon contract in favor of Elon Musk’s Starlink service.

A report from 2023 highlighted concerns about aging FAA facilities and surveillance radar systems, noting the multi-billion dollar cost of necessary replacements.

Airlines for America, representing major carriers including American, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest, plans to reinforce industry demands for emergency funding to address FAA staffing and infrastructure needs, while also pushing for enhanced helicopter collision prevention measures.