Trump administration needs another $19 billion to fully revamp air traffic control

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy testifies before a House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing, in Washington

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Wednesday called on Congress to award another $19 billion to overhaul the aging U.S. air traffic control system after Congress approved an initial $12.5 billion over five years in funding.

“We’re talking $31.5 billion to do the full project,” Duffy said at a U.S. House hearing, calling for a funding plan backed by airlines and other aviation groups.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic control network’s woes have been years in the making, but a rush of high-profile mishaps, near-misses and a catastrophic crash in January between a U.S. Army helicopter and regional American Airlines jet that killed 67 has spiked public alarm.

(Reporting by David Shepardson)