- renata927
- May 14
- 4 min read
US transportation chief rolls out ATC modernization plan
After several incidents highlighting the US air traffic control network's aging infrastructure, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy proposed spending billions of dollars to fix it over the next three to four years. Three incidents – on April 28, May 9 and May 11 – involved “brief outages” of the FAA’s Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System, resulting in “radar data displays going down” at the Philadelphia site, Duffy said on 12 May. He last week unveiled a plan to build a brand new, state-of-the-art air traffic control system that will be the “envy of the world”. According to Duffy, the FAA will replace core infrastructure to manage modern travel and he added: “We have a system that is built for the past, we are proposing a system built for the future.” That includes replacing antiquated telecommunications with new fiber, wireless and satellite technologies at over 4’600 sites, 25’000 new radios and 475 new voice switches as well as building six new air traffic control centers for the first time since the 1960s, replacing towers and TRACONs and replacing 618 radars.
The plan also calls for creating a “new flight management system” that will support flights of future eVTOL air taxies. Duffy says completing the project within four years will require Congress to approve funding, adding, “I am going to ask the Congress for upfront appropriation”. During the event, President Trump spoke via cell phone, saying he expects the US government will award a single contract to a company that will manage the project.
Rolls-Royce and Turkish Technic to establish engine maintenance facility
Rolls-Royce and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider Turkish Technic, will establish a state-of-the-art independent centre at Istanbul Airport. The new facility, targeted to be operational by the end of 2027, will enable Turkish Technic to deliver comprehensive maintenance services for Trent XWB-97, Trent XWB-84, and Trent 7000 engines which power the Airbus A350 and Airbus A330neo aircraft respectively. This will greatly enhance and expand Turkish Technic’s engine maintenance and overhaul operations. With a planned capacity of ~200 shop visits per year, the facility is expected to be one of the largest in the region. The facility will provide services to third party Rolls-Royce TotalCare customers, as well as the Turkish Airlines fleet.
Saudi Arabia removes cabotage restrictions on charter flight operation
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has officially removed cabotage restrictions on charter flight operations, with several international business and private jet operators already applying for permits to operate flights within the Kingdom. The decision, effective 1 May 2025, marks a major milestone in GACA’s strategy to transform Saudi Arabia into a global aviation hub and drive growth of the private aviation and business jet sector. This policy change is a key pillar of the General Aviation Roadmap, first announced in May 2024, which outlines a comprehensive plan to develop the private aviation sector into a $2 billion industry by 2030. In addition to regulatory reforms like lifting cabotage and removing empty-leg restrictions, the roadmap includes major infrastructure investments across the Kingdom. The Strategy is unlocking US$100 billion in private and government investment across the Kingdom’s airports, airlines, and aviation support services. The Strategy aims to extend Saudi Arabia’s connectivity across 29 airports, triple annual passenger traffic, establish two global long-haul connecting hubs, and increase air cargo capacity.
People: James A. Viola, new GAMA president and CEO
James Viola took the reins of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) at the end of March, becoming the trade group’s sixth president and CEO since its founding in 1970. Viola came to GAMA in March 2025 from the Vertical Aviation International association where he also served as President and CEO since January 2020. Prior to joining VAI he served as a Senior Executive for the Federal Aviation Administration in the positions of acting Deputy Associate Administrator of Aviation Safety, and Director of General Aviation Safety Assurance. He was a government representative on both the International Helicopter Safety Team and the United States Helicopter Safety Team, and most recently as the Industry Co-Advisor on the Vertical Aviation Safety Team, VAST.
Viola’s aviation career began with the US Army, with much of his military flying done in the 82nd Airborne Division and in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. A strong advocate for GA, Viola flies as often as he can. He splits his time flying between a Robinson Helicopter and an AG-5B Tiger airplane, depending on whether a runway is involved. He holds airline transport pilot ratings for helicopters and airplanes and is a dual-rated certificated flight instructor, having flown more than 80 make and models of aircraft. His accumulated flight hours are 8,000 plus, which includes 1,100 hours with night-vision goggles.
Viola holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in Carlisle, PA; a Master’s degree in International Relations from Auburn University in Montgomery, AL; a Master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Science from Air University in Maxwell AFB, AL; and a Bachelor of Science from East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg, PA.
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