Rep. Soto pushing to upgrade air traffic control systems at Orlando International Airport

Push to upgrade air traffic control systems at MCO

Congressman Darren Soto is leading a bipartisan effort to secure $60 million in federal funding to upgrade the air traffic control systems at Orlando International Airport (MCO).

ORLANDO, Fla. - A Florida congressman is pushing to upgrade the air traffic control systems at Orlando International Airport.

'It looks kind of like you're playing Atari'

What we know:

Congressman Darren Soto is leading a bipartisan effort to secure $60 million in federal funding to upgrade the air traffic control systems at Orlando International Airport (MCO).

The funds would be used to update the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) system, which works alongside the airport’s control tower.

Soto toured the facility and described its technology as outdated, comparing it to an Atari video game system from the 1980s. The project is part of the Federal Aviation Administration's planned upgrades, and a design firm is currently conducting a siting analysis.

What we don't know:

While funding is being pursued, there is no clear timeline for when construction will begin. The FAA has confirmed that planning is underway, but the agency has not provided an expected completion date.

It is also uncertain how the recent push for upgrades might be influenced by recent air travel incidents, including the deadly mid-air collision in Washington, D.C. Additionally, the extent to which these upgrades will improve air traffic safety at MCO compared to other national airports remains to be seen.

The backstory:

Orlando International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country, yet some of its air traffic control technology is more than 40 years old.

The FAA has been working to modernize outdated control systems nationwide, and MCO is on the list for planned upgrades.

Recent discussions on improving aviation safety gained momentum following a tragic mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., where a military helicopter and a commercial jet collided, killing 67 people. This incident has put a renewed focus on aging air traffic control systems across the country.

The effort to modernize air traffic control at MCO is part of a larger push for nationwide aviation safety improvements.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides funding for airport upgrades, but lawmakers like Rep. Soto are advocating for faster implementation to prevent future accidents.

What they're saying:

Congressman Darren Soto emphasized the outdated technology at MCO, saying the upgrade is overdue.

"It looks kind of like you're playing Atari in there," he said. "Being a kid of the 70s and 80s, I remember playing Atari back in the day and these computers actually date back to that same time period just to give the folks at home a visual about how antiquated equipment is. It works, but it does need to be updated."

Soto also stressed the urgency of upgrades following recent aviation tragedies.

"We need to continue to move this forward with increasing traffic and obviously a heightened concern about air travel over these last couple of weeks with two tragic accidents happening," said Rep. Soto. "It's all about making sure we have safe air travel. We need enough air traffic controllers. We need the best equipment."

President Donald Trump echoed concerns over outdated air traffic control systems following the mid-air collision between a plane and a military helicopter over Washington, D.C. last month.

"We should have had better equipment. We don't. We have obsolete equipment."

Vice President JD Vance reinforced the need for modernization.

"If you look at these old antiquated air traffic control systems, it really does look like a video game that is 30 years old."

Rep. Soto said MCO is on the FAA list for upgrades and the design phase is underway.

"A design firm is working on initial siting analysis for the new Central Florida Terminal Radar Approach Control," an FAA spokesperson confirmed to FOX 35 News in a statement. "The firm will present its findings to the FAA later this year."

Timeline:

April 2024 – Congressman Soto and other lawmakers begin advocating for $60 million in federal funding for MCO air traffic control upgrades.
Mid-2024 – A design firm starts siting analysis for the new Central Florida Terminal Radar Approach Control.
One week ago – A mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., killed 67 people, intensifying calls for air traffic control modernization.
Late 2024 – The FAA is expected to review findings from the design firm and determine the next steps for upgrading MCO’s control systems.

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