Week of August 10, 2026

Newark Gets Radar Upgrade

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) received a new Surface Movement Radars (SMR) this week. SMRs are the radar backbone for the Airport Surface Detection Equipment Model X (ASDE-X). This critical safety system enables air traffic controllers to track aircraft and vehicles on runways and taxiways and alert them to potential conflicts.

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford were on site in Newark Tuesday to witness the SMR installation. Watch the livestream on YouTube in case you missed it. Read more about these updates in our latest press release.

Here are pictures from the Newark SMR installation available for use on air or online.

Gamers Help Fill the Gap

Thanks to Secretary Duffy’s latest recruitment campaign attracting gamers, the FAA has already met 94 percent of this year’s air traffic controller hiring goal. More than 2,000 candidates have been hired – the most in a single year!

FAA Guest Weather Squad Forecaster

This week’s guest Weather Squad forecaster is Becca Schuman with WANE 15 out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Becca is forecasting a rainy weekend for the Central U.S. and parts of the East Coast while the West Coasts stays mostly sunny and dry. When bad weather hits, the FAA does everything it can to get travelers to their destination, but safety comes first. Remember, the FAA doesn’t cancel flights!

ICYMI

The FAA announced the opening of Asheville Regional Airport’s (AVL) new 121-foot air traffic control tower which provides controllers with a modern workspace to support growing air traffic demand across western North Carolina. Read more about the new tower in our press release. Media can download b-roll from inside the Asheville air traffic control tower and hear directly from Administrator Bedford.