DOT Launches ‘Modern Skies’ Website for Air Traffic Control Modernization Tracking

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) anticipates screening over 18 million passengers during Memorial Day weekend. In response, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has introduced a new website to track the $12.5 billion modernization of the U.S. air traffic control system.

The Modern Skies website offers insight into more than 10,000 ongoing projects nationwide. Visitors can explore project summaries and a monthly-updated progress tracker that shows completed work and projects in progress. The site features an interactive map, allowing users to view projects by city, state, airport, ZIP code, or congressional district.

“One of the reasons past air traffic control modernization efforts failed was a lack of transparency. We’re taking a different approach, letting every American get a front-row view of how President Trump is revolutionizing our skies,” said Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy in a statement to CBS News.

Duffy added that the DOT forecasts 5.4 million flights between Memorial Day and Labor Day, highlighting the importance of modernization efforts. As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aims to replace aging infrastructure with new radar systems, radios, fiber-optic cables, and advanced aircraft tracking technology.

Planned upgrades by 2028 include:

• Replacing copper wire telecommunications connections
• Installing 27,000 new radios
• Deploying 450 new digital voice switches
• Implementing 612 new radar systems
• Adding surface awareness surveillance systems at over 200 airports
• Refreshing hundreds of control towers

“The FAA is undertaking the most significant transformation of America’s air traffic control system in generations, and we are committed to being transparent and accountable every step of the way,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated.

In a recent Senate hearing, Bedford discussed the strain on the current air traffic control system, managing over 18 million flights and one billion passenger movements annually. He emphasized the additional demands from drones, advanced air mobility, supersonic operations, and regular space launches.

Bedford and Duffy are advocating for additional congressional funding to develop AI software tools. These tools aim to improve efficiency and safety in the skies by predicting and managing potential delays.

“This software will say, We can see this 45 days out. Let’s manage that before it actually happens,” Duffy remarked to CBS News.