A fatal mid-air collision in January involving a military helicopter and a commercial airliner, coupled with subsequent crashes, has compelled authorities to address the antiquated air traffic control system and recruit additional controllers.

They say this would help make sure things are safe and stop the problems that have troubled the Newark, New Jersey, airport since its radar system stopped working for a short time last week.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is expected 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.

In the midst of this disruption, a key issue emerges: an outdated system is finding it difficult to manage the nation's volume of over 45,000 daily flights.

Whether Duffy's plan, backed by President Donald Trump, will secure the crucial congressional funding required to surpass the efficacy of past reform endeavours over the last three decades remains uncertain. However, Duffy asserts its necessity, noting that despite the investment of over $14 billion in upgrades since 2003, none have fundamentally altered the system's operation.

"We are addressing this issue comprehensively. We are committed to rectifying the situation and intend to implement an entirely new system for everyone, including families and the American populace," Duffy stated.

But there isn't much information. It's not clear if the plan will privatize the air traffic control system, which Trump supported in his first term. Duffy hasn't talked about this possibility. The announcement on Thursday will probably bring together many unions, who will likely be against privatization, as well as trade groups, industry representatives, and families of the people who died in the crash in January.

Professor Sheldon Jacobson from the University of Illinois, who studies aviation risks, said that for many years the system worked well enough that governments mostly ignored it. However, he warned that just working 'well enough' is not good enough for air travel because people's lives are in danger.

Jacobson doubts Duffy's idea will work. However, there might be more support for it after the plane crash between an American Airlines plane and an Army helicopter in Washington D.C. in January, and another plane that turned over and caught fire in Toronto.

For years, reports and hearings have underscored the deficiencies of the nation's air traffic control system.

Former Continental Airlines CEO Frank Lorenzo, who helped create a big hub in Newark that United Airlines still uses after buying Continental, said, "We are using an old system and our infrastructure is old." He added, "We haven't really given it the attention it needs."

The head of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association informed Congress that much of the FAA’s telecommunications infrastructure across over 4,600 locations still depends, in part, on outdated copper wiring, rather than more dependable fiber optic lines capable of managing larger data volumes. Unforeseen service disruptions linked to these lines frequently result in ground delays at airports and seem to have precipitated the issues in Newark.

On April 28, the radar system in Philadelphia employed by air traffic controllers to manage aircraft movements at Newark Airport experienced an outage of at least 30 seconds. This Philadelphia facility is dependent on radar data transmitted from New York, potentially through lines that failed, including some legacy copper phone lines. The FAA is reliant on these lines following the relocation of Newark controllers from New York to Philadelphia last summer to mitigate staffing shortages.

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

It's not clear how long these steps will take, but Duffy hopes things will get better in Newark by summer. This is also when a runway construction project is planned to finish. Several controllers are still on long trauma leave after the radar problem, which has made staff shortages in Philadelphia worse.

Consequently, the FAA has reduced air traffic at Newark to guarantee safe operations, resulting in flight cancellations; the agency will also convene with airlines to assess the airport's capacity. According to FlightAware.com, Newark experienced the highest number of cancellations nationwide on Wednesday, with 42 departures and 46 arrivals canceled, despite United having already reduced its daily flights at the airport by 35 since the previous weekend.

Since its inception in 2003, the FAA's Nextgen program has implemented gradual enhancements, notably the development of the ADS-B system, which furnishes controllers and other aircraft with more accurate positional data. This particular system has become a central element in the ongoing investigation into the January collision, given that the Black Hawk helicopter involved was reportedly not utilising it to transmit its location when the incident occurred.

Duffy has endeavoured to expedite the recruitment of air traffic controllers by reducing the duration of the academy entry process and enhancing student achievement. The FAA is also providing incentives to seasoned controllers to mitigate premature retirement.

A big problem with improving air travel systems is that the FAA has to keep the old system working while they create a new one. Then, they need to change to the new system smoothly. This is part of the reason why the agency has made smaller, step-by-step improvements before.

"The problem has persisted for decades, not due to oversight, but inherent difficulty in resolution," stated Jeff Guzetti, a former accident investigator who also served for several years in the Transportation Department’s Inspector General’s office with a focus on aviation. "It necessitates substantial financial investment and proficient administration, both of which the FAA has demonstrably lacked for years."