Aviation’s Future Demands Quick Action on Airspace Modernization

Today’s leading airliners, business jets and military aircraft are modern marvels, equipped with advanced avionics, automated and autonomous systems, and the most up-to-date safety, navigation and communications technologies. However, their potential is severely limited by America’s obsolete air traffic management system.

In an age of fiber optics, datalink and artificial intelligence, the decades-old ATM system still relies primarily on radar surveillance, voice communications and controller intervention. 

Its shortcomings have become much more apparent as the country’s airspace has become more crowded and complex, and as next-generation advanced air mobility (AAM) platforms prepare to join conventional aircraft in the skies we share. 

The FAA projects a 30% increase in U.S. passenger boardings over the next decade, which will result in a significant bump in air traffic for a nation widely acknowledged to operate the world’s busiest and most complex airspace system. 

Building a New Airspace Management System from the Ground Up

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are accelerating air traffic management upgrades to improve resilience and accommodate future growth. Replacing obsolete infrastructure, adding automation tools and tackling the ongoing shortage of skilled and available air traffic controllers will help ensure the system remains safe, efficient and resilient for decades to come.

At the Honeywell-hosted American Aviation Leadership Summit on November 19, 2025, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the Trump Administration’s commitment to safety and modernizing the air traffic management system in a conversation with Honeywell Aerospace President and CEO Jim Currier. 

“Our air traffic control system is antiquated and needs to be built brand new,” Duffy said. “The process has started and we are moving as quickly and safely as possible. We’re going to build on time and we’re going to build right – our timeline is by the end of 2028.”

Currier strongly supports the Administration’s proactive approach to modernization. “Airspace modernization isn’t optional. It’s essential to maintaining safety and unlocking the full potential of tomorrow’s aviation system,” he said. “That will require a strong spirit of collaboration between government agencies, regulators and the entire global aviation community.” 

Honeywell delivers proven technologies that enable modern airspace management, including advanced avionics, high-speed voice and data connectivity, and resilient navigation systems that create a seamless, end-to-end experience for both conventional and next-generation aircraft. 

Making Room for Next-Generation Aircraft and Capabilities

Recent forecasts suggest that hundreds to thousands of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and other AAM passenger and cargo aircraft could be operating in U.S. airspace by 2030, along with a commercial drone fleet expected to exceed a million units.

At the same time, conventional aircraft are becoming more automated and increasingly autonomous, equipped with advanced avionics, navigation capabilities and predictive safety systems to optimize every phase of flight. As these capabilities continue to evolve, conventional aircraft will operate with greater precision and efficiency, further underscoring the need for an airspace system that can keep pace with the capabilities built into modern airplanes. 

Taylor Alberstadt, Senior Director of Global Sales and Account Management on the Honeywell Aerospace AAM team, added, “We can never push adoption of new technology until it proves to be as safe or safer than what exists today. As AAM aircraft and autonomous vehicles enter the airspace, we need to make sure they enter the airspace safely, and we certainly have the technology as an industry to do that.”

Closing the Gap to Deliver Aviation’s Benefits

Closing the gap between the advanced capabilities of modern aircraft and an aviation infrastructure designed in a long-gone era is essential to unlocking the enormous safety, capacity and efficiency benefits aviation can offer to society and the flying public. 

“The aviation industry is rallying around air traffic modernization,” noted Bob Buddecke, Honeywell Aerospace President of Electronic Solutions. “All the technology we bring to the airplane fits symbiotically with the work being done on the ground ecosystem. It’s important to embrace this transformation to include new technology and new entrants to our airspace through collaboration with the active participation of the entire global community.” ¬¬¬

The National Airspace System must transition from a predictable, crewed environment to a dynamic, densely populated ecosystem. This shift requires modern infrastructure and traffic-management tools capable of coordinating thousands of diverse operations. 

It will also demand an unprecedented level of global collaboration and American stewardship to harmonize global standards, align regulatory frameworks and maintain interoperability across an increasingly interconnected aviation ecosystem. 

“U.S. leadership will ensure the highest levels of innovation and safety,” he continued. “But the only way to really make progress on complex issues like this is to have open dialogue with our industry partners, government partners, academic institutions and other key stakeholders from throughout the world. It's the only way to address this complexity with purpose and impact.”