东北部各地的航班乘客近日亲眼见证了美国的航空系统为何亟需升级。一次通信故障，加上备用连接原有的问题，导致数千名从费城前往波士顿的乘客滞留机场停机坪。
Flyers across the Northeast recently witnessed firsthand why America’s aviation system is in desperate need of an upgrade. A telecommunications failure, compounded by existing problems with a backup connection, left thousands of passengers from Philadelphia to Boston stranded on the tarmac.
交通部长肖恩·达菲指出，美国空域运行的仍是数十年前的技术，他对此直言不讳：“这并不令人意外。”但他补充说，只要国会提供恰当的资金，美国就能“防止未来再次发生此类中断”。尽管特朗普政府正着手修补国家空域系统中的许多薄弱环节，但要完成这项工作，仍需国会持续拨款。
Pointing to the decades-old technology running our airspace, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy offered a blunt assessment: “this is not shocking.”But he added that with the right funding from Congress, Uncle Sam can “prevent disruptions like this in the future.”Although the Trump administration is working to shore up many of these vulnerabilities across the National Airspace System, completing the job will require continued funding from Congress.
一年多前，美国联邦航空管理局启动了一项耗资125亿美元的建设计划，打造“令世界羡慕的”空中交通管制网络。其目标是利用能够应对当前客运量、将中断大幅减少的技术，取代已有数十年历史的基础设施。
Just over a year ago, the Federal Aviation Administration kickstarted an effort to build an “Envy of the World” air traffic control network to the tune of $12.5 billion. The goal is to replace decades-old infrastructure with technology capable of handling today’s passenger volumes with a fraction of the disruptions.
目前，老旧铜线中约有三分之二已被光纤电缆或无线技术取代，帮助飞行员与地面管制员进行更有效的通信。美国联邦航空管理局局长布莱恩·贝德福德预计，这一现代化项目将在明年此时完成。
To date, roughly two-thirds of aging copper wires have been replaced by fiber optic cables or wireless technology, helping pilots communicate more effectively with controllers on the ground. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford expects this portion of the modernization project to be completed by this time next year.
与此同时，数十套新的地面态势感知系统已经安装，使工作人员能够更清晰地掌握飞机和车辆在跑道及滑行道上移动的情况。这些尖端工具提高了运行效率，但它们只是解决方案的一半。
Meanwhile, dozens of new surface-awareness systems have been installed, giving personnel a clearer picture of aircraft and vehicles moving across runways and taxiways. These cutting-edge tools provide efficiency — but they are only half of the equation.
现代化改造的下一阶段仍需额外资金，其中包括建设一套现代化的空中交通流量管理系统，以及开发人工智能软件，以更好地预测停机坪可能发生的中断。这项技术目前正在华盛顿特区周边地区的机场进行初步应用，未来有望推广至全国各航空枢纽。
Additional funds are needed to begin the next phase of the modernization overhaul. This includes a modern air traffic flow management system and AI-powered software to better predict when disruptions on the tarmac could occur. The tech is currently being debuted at airports in the D.C.-area with hopes that it can be extended to hubs nationwide.
完成这些及其他基础设施升级还需要多少资金？达菲最近申请了300亿美元资金。
How much is needed to finish these and other infrastructure upgrades? Duffy recently requested $30 billion in funding.
追加投资迫在眉睫。美国联邦航空管理局（FAA）警告称，已经“开始因资金不足而推迟第二阶段和第三阶段”。如今，国会比以往任何时候都更需要挺身而出，为现代化升级再提供第二笔启动资金，以避免进一步延误。
The additional investment is sorely needed. The FAA has warned that it is “already starting to delay phase two and phase three because of lack of funding.”Now more than ever, Congress needs to step up and provide a second down-payment on modernization to avoid further delays.
多名议员已经表示愿意支持这项工作。在最近一次众议院拨款委员会听证会上，交通与住房和城市发展小组委员会主席史蒂夫·沃马克（阿肯色州共和党议员）对FAA负责人表示：“我们愿意成为这项工作的合作伙伴。”众议院拨款委员会主席汤姆·科尔（俄克拉何马州共和党议员）同样强调，国会在提供必要投资和监督方面发挥着重要作用，确保FAA拥有履行职责所需的“资源、人员和能力”。
Several lawmakers have already signaled their willingness to support it. During a recent House Appropriations Committee hearing, Transportation-HUD subcommittee chairman Steve Womack (R-Ark.) told the FAA chief “we are here to be a partner in the effort.”House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) similarly emphasized Congress’s role in providing necessary investment and oversight, ensuring the FAA has the “resources, workforce, and capabilities” needed to carry out its mission.
尽管共和党人总体上支持当前这项工作，但现代化改造在另一阵营也不乏支持。参议院少数党领袖查克·舒默（纽约州民主党议员）此前曾提请关注美国空域基础设施陈旧的问题，前总统乔·拜登则提出过自己的计划，以现代化改造美国空中交通管制网络。
While Republicans broadly back the current effort, modernization has no shortage of support from the other side. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has previously called attention to our outdated skies, while former President Joe Biden proposed his own plan to modernize America’s air traffic control network.
即将到来的12月预算谈判可能让拨款委员有机会开始满足FAA的资金需求。国会也可以考虑通过一项独立资金方案。无论议员选择哪条道路，持续推进现代化改造都将证明能够为纳税人的资金投入带来良好回报。
The upcoming December budget negotiations could give appropriators an opportunity to begin satisfying the FAA’s request. Congress could also consider passing a standalone funding package. Regardless of which path lawmakers take, continuing to keep modernization efforts moving will prove to be a good return on taxpayer investment.
与修理老旧设备或给过时的软件打补丁相比，这笔钱能为广大航空旅客带来切实好处。厌倦了可能使行程延长数小时的空中交通管制延误，或导致错过转机的通信故障吗？这就是答案。
Compared to fixing old equipment or patching outdated software, the money would translate to tangible benefits for the flying public. Sick of air traffic control delays or communications failures that can add hours to a trip and fumble connections? This is the answer.
东北部地区最新的航空混乱再次提醒人们，依赖老旧的空中交通管制基础设施会给旅客带来真正的头疼问题。交通部已经着手对其进行全面改造。现在，国会的资金支持必须跟上步伐。
The latest aviation disruptions across the Northeast serve as another reminder that relying on older air traffic control infrastructure can cause real headaches for travelers. The Department of Transportation is already working to overhaul it. Now, funding from Congress must keep pace.
杰克逊·谢德鲍尔（Jackson Shedelbower）是交通政策中心执行主任。
Jackson Shedelbower is the executive director of the Center for Transportation Policy.