A fatal mid-air collision in January involving a military helicopter and a commercial airliner, and subsequent crashes, have compelled authorities to address the nation's antiquated air traffic control system and increase controller recruitment.

They argue that this measure would contribute to guaranteeing safety and avert the types of issues that have afflicted the Newark, New Jersey, airport since its radar system experienced a temporary failure last week.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy plans to announce a multi-billion-dollar plan to improve the country's air traffic control system on Thursday. At the same time, the Federal Aviation Administration is working to quickly fix technology and staffing problems in Newark and prevent similar problems in other places.

Amidst this turbulence, a persistent reality emerges: an antiquated system is evidently finding it difficult to accommodate the nation's volume of over 45,000 daily flights.

It's not clear if Duffy's plan, which President Donald Trump supports, will get the money it needs from Congress to work better than past attempts to change things over the last 30 years. But Duffy says it is needed. Even though more than $14 billion has been spent on improvements since 2003, none of them have really changed how the system works.

"We are actively addressing the situation and are committed to resolving it by constructing a completely new system for the benefit of everyone, including your families and the American populace," Duffy stated.

Nevertheless, specifics remain limited, leaving the potential inclusion of air traffic control privatization, a concept previously supported by Trump, uncertain as Duffy has not emphasized this possibility.

For years, the system has functioned adequately, leading consecutive administrations to largely overlook it, stated University of Illinois professor Sheldon Jacobson, who has researched aviation risks. “However, merely adequate performance is insufficient in air travel, given that human lives are jeopardized.”

Jacobson isn't sure Duffy's idea will work. However, there might be more support after the crash between an American Airlines plane and an Army helicopter near Washington D.C. in January, and a plane that turned over and caught fire in Toronto.

Reports and hearings have often shown the long-term problems in the country's air traffic control system.

Frank Lorenzo, who used to be the CEO of Continental Airlines and helped create a big hub in Newark that United Airlines still uses after buying Continental, said they were using an old system and infrastructure. He added that they hadn't given it the attention it needed.

The head of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association told Congress that most of the FAA's communication systems at over 4,600 places still use old copper wires for at least some of their connections. This is instead of using more reliable fiber optic cables that can carry more information. Problems with these old wires often cause flights to be stopped at airports and seem to have caused the issues in Newark.

The radar system utilised by air traffic controllers in Philadelphia for managing aircraft movements at Newark airport experienced a minimum 30-second outage on April 28. This facility is dependent on radar data transmitted from New York via lines that may have malfunctioned, some of which consist of antiquated copper telephone lines. The FAA's dependence on these lines stems from the relocation of Newark controllers from New York to Philadelphia last summer to mitigate staffing challenges.

The FAA said on Wednesday that it plans to replace old copper wires with fiber optics and add three new data lines between New York and Philadelphia. The agency is also trying to train and certify more controllers.

The duration of these measures remains uncertain, although Duffy anticipates an improvement in Newark by summer, coinciding with the projected conclusion of a runway construction project. Furthermore, several controllers are still on prolonged trauma leave following the radar outage, exacerbating staffing constraints in Philadelphia.

Consequently, the FAA has decelerated operations at Newark, limiting inbound and outbound traffic to prioritize safety, resulting in flight cancellations. Duffy further stated that the FAA would convene with all airlines to ascertain the airport's optimal flight capacity. According to FlightAware.com, Newark experienced the highest number of cancellations nationwide on Wednesday, with 42 outbound and 46 inbound flights affected. This occurred despite United having already reduced its daily flights at the airport by 35 since the previous weekend.

The FAA has implemented gradual enhancements through its Nextgen initiative, launched in 2003. A key advancement is the development of the ADS-B system, which furnishes air traffic controllers and other aircraft with highly accurate positional data. This system has become a central focus of the inquiry into the January crash, as the Black Hawk helicopter was not transmitting its location via this technology at the moment of impact.

Duffy has also tried to make hiring air traffic controllers faster by cutting the time it takes to get into the training academy and making more students successful. The FAA is also giving extra money to experienced controllers to stop them from retiring early.

A significant obstacle to enhancing aviation infrastructure is the FAA's need to maintain the current system's operation while simultaneously creating a new one, followed by the task of implementing a smooth transition, which partly explains the agency's preference for incremental advancements previously.

The issue has persisted for decades, not due to oversight, but owing to its inherent complexity, according to Jeff Guzetti, a former accident investigator who also served in the Transportation Department’s Inspector General’s office, specializing in aviation. He asserted that it necessitates both financial resources and effective leadership, and the FAA has been grappling with deficiencies in both aspects for years.