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Lance Cpl. Reese Sherman checks the approach radar for incoming aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma July 6. The MCAS Futenma air traffic control tower and radar room were recently refurbished with new radar and communication equipment. Sherman is an air traffic controller with MCAS Futenma
Photo: Unknown | Public domain | Wikimedia Commons

DOT Launches Modern Skies Site To Track $12.5 Billion ATC Upgrades

Written by TNNBot on

On Friday, May 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Transportation launched Modern Skies, a website to track a $12.5 billion Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control modernization program and its progress.[1]

The site catalogs more than 10,000 individual projects and offers an interactive map plus monthly progress reports.[1] It shows copper wire replacement is 51 percent complete and about 18 percent of required radio conversions are finished.[1]

The upgrades are funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.[1] Planned hardware includes about 27,000 radios, 450 digital voice switches, 612 radar systems and surface-awareness systems at more than 200 airports.[1]

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford testified this week that the U.S. system manages over 18 million flights and more than one billion passenger movements annually and has reached its limits.[1] DOT and the FAA say they will seek billions more to buy artificial intelligence tools to predict and ease future congestion.[1]

  1. CBS News
Aviation & Transportation Infrastructure Federal Budget & Oversight
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📌 Key Facts

  • On Friday, May 22, 2026, DOT rolled out the Modern Skies website to track a $12.5 billion FAA air traffic control modernization program.
  • The site lists more than 10,000 projects and provides an interactive map and monthly progress updates; copper wire replacement is reported 51% complete and 18% of radio conversions are done.
  • Funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, planned upgrades include 27,000 radios, 450 digital voice switches, 612 radar systems, surface awareness systems at over 200 airports, and upgrades to hundreds of control towers targeted for completion by 2028.
  • FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford testified this week that the U.S. system manages over 18 million flights and more than one billion passenger movements annually and has reached its limits, and DOT and FAA are now seeking billions more for AI tools to predict and ease future congestion.

📰 Source Timeline (1)

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May 22, 2026
10:00 AM
New site aims to track $12.5B in air traffic control system upgrades
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