TEXAS — While there’s a spike in international travel happening for the FIFA World Cup, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a $12.5 billion plan to modernize air traffic control towers around the nation.
In Texas, over 50 international and regional airports, including Dallas Love Field, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and El Paso International Airport, will get new radios, digital voice switches, radar systems and more.
According to the Modern Skies website, Texas will have a massive modernization effort with 673 active or planned projects across the state.
Dallas Love Field airport officials say the upgraded equipment will help air traffic controllers.
“Moving from copper lines to a fiber-based internet, that means that we’re going to have faster systems and information that comes through us. So that means that the air traffic controllers can actually do their job more efficiently,” said Javier Centeno, assistant director of operations at Dallas Love Field.
The U.S. Department of Transportation launched a website to track progress. The department will post monthly updates on what work has been accomplished and what is left to do.
According to the FAA, upgrading projects will hopefully conclude by 2028.