Elon Musk has ‘entry to one of the best technological individuals, one of the best engineers on the planet,’ Sean Duffy stated.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on Feb. 5 that Elon Musk’s cost-cutting crew on the U.S. DOGE Service would quickly hone in on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) air site visitors management system.
Duffy didn’t clarify how Musk can be upgrading the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) aviation system. The company didn’t reply to a request for remark by publication time.
Shortly earlier than his put up, Duffy spoke at a convention of state transportation division officers about his plans for the FAA. He talked about talking with Musk on Feb. 4 and known as the SpaceX and Tesla CEO a “fairly exceptional man” who has “entry to one of the best technological individuals, one of the best engineers on the planet.”
“We’re gonna remake our airspace,” Duffy stated. “And we’re gonna do it shortly, and we now have the help of the Congress, I believe proper now … we’re utilizing like Nineteen Sixties, World Battle II know-how in a lot of the elements of the airspace. We’re gonna improve it.”
A lot of the gear utilized by air site visitors management is antiquated, together with its radar system used for monitoring planes. Efforts to implement a satellite-based air site visitors management system often called NextGen all through the US have continued for years, however the adoption has seen delays as a result of numerous points, together with prices.
Duffy additionally introduced in his speech that the Transportation Division plans to surge air site visitors controllers within the “subsequent couple of days.” The secretary famous that hiring and deploying new controllers takes time, as it’s not like “flippin’ a change” to coach them.
Duffy didn’t present particulars about his plan whereas talking earlier than the convention of state DOT officers.
Nevertheless, the transportation secretary famous that previous to final week’s lethal midair collision between an Military helicopter and a regional American Airways jet, the 2 controller positions at Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport that dealt with helicopters and planes had been extra consolidated earlier within the day than typical.
Military helicopters and industrial jets transmit on totally different frequencies, and on the time of the crash, one controller was dealing with each.
“I’m gonna have a look at the insurance policies and procedures contained in the tower, why that occurred,” Duffy stated. He additionally questioned why the helicopter coaching mission was working in such a busy airspace round Washington at 9 p.m. when industrial flights are in frequent operation moderately than later within the night.
“And if we now have generals who’re flying in helicopters for comfort by means of this airspace, that’s unacceptable,” Duffy stated.
Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth stated final week that the Black Hawk helicopter concerned within the crash was conducting a routine coaching mission. He additionally confirmed that evening imaginative and prescient goggles have been worn sooner or later in the course of the helicopter coaching.