Newark Liberty International Airport is in need of improvements after experiencing severe disruptions in flight operations over the past few weeks. The airport’s airspace has faced several blackouts ranging from 30 to 90 seconds, during which air traffic controllers were unable to see radar. In response to these issues, U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill, a former U.S. Navy pilot and current Democratic gubernatorial candidate in New Jersey, has sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, requesting specific deadlines for necessary improvements at the airport.

In her letter, Sherrill expressed disappointment with the lack of urgency and action in addressing the issues at Newark Airport. She asked Duffy for a timeline on when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to increase the number of air traffic controllers for Newark’s airspace and complete necessary technology upgrades. However, Duffy explained that even with the addition of experienced air traffic controllers, it would still take a year of training for them to work in the complex Newark airspace.

During a congressional hearing, Duffy also mentioned offering bonuses to air traffic controllers to encourage them to stay on the job after 25 years and implementing faster medical clearances for prospective controllers. However, the transfer of air traffic controllers from Long Island to Philadelphia last summer caused a delay in data feed, which can be easily disrupted. Senator Andy Kim asked for a timeline on when the data feed would be fully migrated to Philadelphia, to which Franklin McIntosh, the deputy chief operating officer of the FAA, responded that it was