Transportation Secretary Duffy says America’s skies are still the safest in the world, but current technology and staffing methods need serious updates to keep flights running securely and on time. He also believes strict priorities in hiring, rather than focusing on certain social goals, will lead to safer travel.
Key Facts:
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy appeared on “Fox News Sunday” with Shannon Bream.
- Duffy called the FAA’s pilot warning system “antiquated” and in need of upgrades.
- COVID-19 restrictions led to fewer trainees at the FAA’s training academy.
- FAA mandates retirement for controllers at age 55, increasing turnover.
- Duffy said recruitment must focus on “the best and brightest” to fill critical roles.
The Rest of The Story:
During his interview, Duffy said federal aviation remains very secure, pointing out that air travel is the safest form of transportation in the United States.
He noted that much of the air traffic technology should be modernized, especially the “Notice to Air Mission” or NOTAM system, which had an outage recently.
According to Duffy, these older systems are a weak link in the chain, and he believes updating them is necessary to reduce service disruptions.
He explained that pandemic-era limitations stalled the pipeline of new air traffic controllers, as smaller class sizes at the FAA academy slowed their ability to replace those who retire at 55.
Duffy insisted that focusing primarily on skill and merit when hiring is essential for both safety and efficiency.
He also expressed concern over two recent aviation incidents: a collision between an American Airlines jet and a military Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C., and a separate private plane crash in Pennsylvania.
Duffy intends to learn precisely what went wrong in the air traffic control tower before the collision at Reagan National Airport and whether staffing or training played a role.
🚨 DEI is DEAD at the FAA and DOT! 🚨
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy just made it official in his Fox News interview today: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has NO PLACE in transportation safety. He made it clear that DEI leads to incompetence, which in turn leads to… pic.twitter.com/xB8u5hLByy
— Project Constitution (@ProjectConstitu) February 2, 2025
Commentary:
This situation shows how little regard for safety the FAA and the government have had toward the well-being of American flyers.
It is a miracle there haven’t been more accidents, considering the glaring issues with outdated systems and slow reforms under previous leadership.
Democrats have held power for 12 of the last 16 years, which critics argue has kept these modernization efforts on the back burner.
Thankfully, President Trump is in office, and with support from Secretary Duffy, there seems to be renewed commitment to fixing these problems.
By prioritizing the best talent, modern technology, and more streamlined operations, the administration is putting traveler safety first.
Many Americans welcome this sense of urgency, believing it signals a more reliable future for air travel.
Last year I visited the FAA Control Tower at MSP to better understand the issues facing our US National Airspace System (NAS) – about which airlines and safety officials have been complaining for years.
Truth: Most of our ATC facilities are 60+ years old, most still use paper… pic.twitter.com/XqYUkAAacD
— Dean Phillips (@deanbphillips) January 30, 2025
The Bottom Line:
Secretary Duffy’s comments point to a system in need of modernization to keep passengers safe and flights on schedule.
He insists the nation’s airways are still highly secure, but more trained controllers and updated equipment are needed to handle future demands.
Critics say funding and bureaucratic processes often slow such changes.
Nonetheless, the secretary appears determined to move forward with these improvements to safeguard aviation.
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