Newark Airport Telecom Issues: Sen. Andy Kim Questions FAA on Fixes and Staffing

Understanding Newark Airport's Telecom Problems

• 💡 Senator Kim inquired if the FAA has a clear understanding of the specific causes behind the telecommunications problems and outages at Newark Liberty International Airport.
• 🎯 Franklin McIntosh, Deputy COO of the Air Traffic Organization at the FAA, affirmed that the FAA does have a clear understanding of the issues.
• 🔍 The FAA has dispatched senior leadership to liaise with their telecommunication vendors, Verizon and Crown Castle, to address the problems.

Timeline for Infrastructure Improvements

• 🚀 A task force, assembled at the request of the FAA Administrator and Secretary, is working with vendors to implement improved redundancies.
• 🗓️ These redundancies are expected to be in place by this summer.
• 🛠️ A proposed fix involves a switch and realignment of the STAR system to route directly from Newark to Philly TRACON, rather than through N90, to prevent blackouts.

STAR System Adaptation and Timeline

• 🧠 The adaptation of the STAR system requires building software to enable Newark and Philadelphia TRACON to communicate with the N90 TRACON.
• ⏳ While some suggested a 6-8 week timeline for a primary fix, the software enhancements and testing could take 6 to 12 months.
• 📈 McIntosh believes a 12-month timeline for adaptations is very conservative, with a team already working on them next week.

Staffing Concerns at Philly TRACON

• ⚠️ Senator Kim raised concerns about staffing levels at Philly TRACON, noting a decrease in CPCs and the potential departure of temporary duty staff by July 28, 2026.
• ✅ McIntosh stated that his information differs, reporting that the pipeline for Controller Performance Support (CPC) is robust with individuals actively training and scheduled through mid-2026.
• 🤝 The Senator and McIntosh agreed to follow up to deconflict their numbers regarding staffing and ensure confidence in the system's future.