Washington
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A new fiber optic cable is now in place between Philadelphia and New York to improve telecommunications in air traffic control in the establishment that manages flights in and outside the Newark Liberty International Airport, after a weekend in charge of Memorial Day, the Ministry of Transport announced on Wednesday.
“It was the troubled part of the line that was laid,” said Transport Secretary Sean Duffy at a press conference. “We are making some of the connections right now, then we have to test it. I don’t want to promise and underestimate. ”
Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration uses “an abundance of prudence” with the tests and hopes that the fiber line will be used by the beginning of July.
Philadelphia air traffic controllers have repeatedly lost contact with Newark flights, including April 28, when the existing cable failed, silencing the radios for 30 seconds and blocking radar glasses for 90 seconds. Three other breakdowns have been held since then, CNN previously reported.
Improvements come after the system has survived a busy travel holidays. Less than 1% of thefts were canceled throughout the American air travel system during the holiday period and less than 3% of thefts were delayed, the actual administrator of FAA Chris Rocheleau said.
Friday, the transportation Security Administration projected more than 3 million people across the country at the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend. More than 2 million have been projected each of the other days.
United Airlines reported the most popular weekend in Memorial Day, with 553,000 people traveling worldwide every day. At Key Newark Hub of the airline, no department was canceled on Sunday or on Monday, United said.
Rocheleau added that the agency will continue to work with airlines and airport to slow traffic in Newark to ensure safety and avoid delays. Last week The FAA reduced 25% of flights there To help the congestion of the sub-personnel and track construction, as well as the infrastructure and technology for controlling aging air traffic.
“We will continue to work with airlines, with airports to make sure that when we manage traffic, we do it safely and effectively throughout the system,” said Rocheleau.
Duffy asks the Congress to support a plan for a brand new air traffic control system, but has not made a price on it. He noted on Wednesday that it will be higher than the 12.5 billion dollars of an invoice from the room currently envisaged.
“It is substantial work and will take a substantial sum of money,” said Duffy.
