Elaine L. Chao: Our air traffic system requires a complete overhaul. The immediate relief is in reach Opinion star-news.press/wp

I grew up in New York City, and served as Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Labor, I am intimately familiar with the Newark Liberty (EWR International Airport. Regardless of the occasion, I have always been impressed with experts for the diligent aviation holding EWR, one of the busiest international hubs of our nations, Humming. They, together with air traffic controllers (ATCs), airline pilots and crew, tirelessly work to ensure that the journey through Newark is safe. The security security is never endangered in the EWR, and the core remains the entire American aircraft system.

In recent weeks, aging air traffic technology associated with a long-term staff shortage is free from extended operational disorders, putting EWR in headlines. When the airport capacity is already a problem, the problems are multiplied quickly. We saw this first in EWR’s large center that routinely scheduled more flights from the airport can handle. Any disorder, whether it is technology, staff or time, has a strong effect that affects national airspace and countless passengers depending on.

When this happens, dedicated air traffic controllers take the current action to keep the passengers safe. They slow down turnover and implement the delay for the aircraft distance program in the air and the ground. These actions are necessary for security, but are not a substitute for a long-term solution. In fact, they tend to deteriorate travel disorders by forcing airport operators, ATC and Airlines for further delay, redirecting, or completely canceling flights.

So what can be done? Simply put, these questions require complete and pressed overhaul of the air traffic system of our nation. I don’t think of upgrades – I mean the bold effort to rebuild from the foundation by updating our technology and fully revitalize our air traffic control system.

A critical first step is to update our technology. I encourage the Secretary Sean Duffy recent announcement of such a plan, the one who will replace outdated infrastructure and technology. Such a plan is long, and I report the decision of this administration to take aggressive steps to address the root causes of questions that have recently seen in Newark and elsewhere. In 2017, we suggested ATC overhaul and new funds for the system for the system, but in the congress was unsuccessful.

Second, we need to move urgently to attract, train and retain air traffic control talent. This includes further expansion of our ATC training skills, simplify employment and structuring working conditions and compensation for attracting best ATC experts in business. Air traffic controllers have huge responsibility on their shoulders and too often burned for long hours, overtime working times and frustration of work on the returns on the 1970s.

Such caring reforms need time, and the path of the public cannot afford to wait. Therefore, it is vital to consider the full package of political solutions to address this challenge, including the third step for imposed heavier capacity controls on the EWR airport.

You can surprise you to learn that Newark is the only main airport in New York, which operates without capacity control – the global air traffic management standard on limited airports. The other two New York airports, John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Laguardia (LGA), have such controls in place.

Taking this step to manage traffic will help match the demand in the real world, giving air traffic controllers and the pilots that need a room that needs effectively, and provide a pleasant and crew pleasing, the practical travel experience they deserve. This solution cannot be independently and must be supplemented throughout the transformation of the system. But with the recollection on the summer travel season, it is a small step that we can now now protect the system reliability and mitigate travel disorders in the short term.

I will repeat that EWR and American air trips in the whole remain safe despite travel disorders recorded in the titles. But these disorders come to a high price – both in terms of economic costs incurred by passengers, employees, airports, airlines and local businesses, as well as personal leakage of long-expected job.

Travelers deserve better. I SAM SAM – Our National Airspace – deserves the opportunity to function how it is designed to: safe, reliable, with integrity and with the passengers of the top mind.

Honor Elaine L. Chao was 18. The American Secretary of Transportation, 24. The American Minister of Labor, and the first Asian American woman appointed president’s cabinet in history.

Attitudes expressed in this article are their own writer.