Yesterday, the U.S. air traffic control system experienced only the second nationwide ground stop since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. PASS is grateful to the dedicated federal employees it represents at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) who worked tirelessly to assess the situation and help get to the root of the problem. They participated in multiple phone conferences and were testing the systems to get them back online and planes back in the air as quickly and safely as possible.
The issue was isolated to two contractor owned and maintained routers that were being updated mid-day. Historically contractors have followed a protocol where FAA employees conduct a risk assessment and coordinate the maintenance of the system or equipment. PASS-represented technicians were not involved in the upgrades that led to the ground stop yesterday.
PASS fully supports the administration’s efforts to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system. It must be recognized by the FAA that modernization will move more quickly with fewer disruptions if PASS is fully engaged.The employees represented by the union are on the front lines and they have the skills and expertise to make the Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) a reality. These employees should receive training on new equipment and could ensure more robust installation and optimization—if the workforce were properly staffed.
The FAA acknowledges that the technician workforce is understaffed and released a workforce plan in May 2026 calling for an increase of at least 750 additional certified professional technicians (CPTs) by 2030. Additionally, the plan creates a process to hire new technicians in advance of retiring CPTs to ensure the FAA isn’t losing experience and expertise while increasing the workload of those who remain. However, little progress has been made on hiring those new technicians.
PASS and the public servants it represents are ready, willing and able to modernize the air traffic control system in the safest and most efficient manner.
