Industry Insights
A4A at the AAAE ATC Modernization Summit
July 17, 2025
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Airlines for America (A4A) joined government and industry voices for the AAAE Air Traffic Control Modernization Summit in Washington, D.C. The day’s discussions made one thing clear: Modernizing America’s air traffic control system is not only necessary – it is achievable if we work together with urgency, stay focused and make the most of critical new funding.
A Call to Seize the Moment
A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio opened the day on the panel, “The Case for ATC Modernization: A Discussion with Industry Leaders.” Sharing the stage with other aviation leaders, Calio addressed the challenges facing the National Airspace System (NAS) and the opportunities ahead. He emphasized that modernization requires sustained collaboration and investment, calling the $12.5 billion in funding from President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill is a crucial first step. “We all need to stay together and seize this moment,” Calio said, underscoring the importance of unity across government, labor and industry.
Modernization Must Deliver
Later in the day, A4A’s Senior Vice President of Legislative and Regulatory Policy, Sharon Pinkerton, co-moderated the panel, “Modernizing Air Traffic Control: Key Technologies for Transformation in the Sky and on the Ground.” This session took a deep dive into the cutting-edge systems driving the future of ATC – from advanced surveillance and communications to automation programs.
Pinkerton pressed panelists to stay grounded in the practical side of delivering upgrades on time and at scale. “How would you prove to Congress that it can be done in a short amount of time?” she asked, pointing to the sense of urgency that must come with significant funding. Panelist William Colligan, CEO of Indra Air Traffic Inc., reinforced this point saying, “We’ve got to build – especially when you consider the short time frame, we’ve got to do this upgrade. We’ve got to demonstrate the industry’s ability to do this reliably in order to get the additional money.”
Keeping Standards High
To close the day, A4A’s Senior Vice President of Operation and Safety, Paul Rinaldi, brought his decades of operational expertise to the panel, “The Runway Ahead: Next Steps for Congress, Administration and Aviation Stakeholders.” He spoke about the Modern Skies Coalition and the importance of never losing sight of the fundamentals. “It’s not just advancing new equipment,” Rinaldi said. “It’s actually getting back down to the basics – the rules, the training and maintaining that standard.”
He also highlighted that accountability must stay front and center as the FAA and stakeholders implement the historic $12.5 billion investment. “We have to push them [the FAA] to scale at a quicker pace.”
A4A was proud to have our leadership at the table, advancing this once-in-a-generation effort to transform our nation’s airspace for passengers, cargo and communities alike. We look forward to continuing this work – together – to ensure the U.S. remains the safest, most efficient airspace in the world.