Elon Musk’s SpaceX engineers part of DOGE team at FAA to fix air traffic control

Elon Musk’s SpaceX engineers have recently collaborated with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in an effort to modernize the air traffic control system under the Trump administration. This initiative comes in response to a tragic incident on Jan. 29, where an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines flight landing at Reagan airport in Washington, D.C. This incident served as a wake-up call for the need to make improvements in the aviation system.

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy expressed his commitment to transportation excellence and transparency with the public. He enlisted the help of SpaceX engineers, among other bright minds, to upgrade the aviation system. These engineers, part of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team, are serving as special government employees and are working separately from the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation to avoid conflicts of interest.

Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau announced that the DOGE team would be visiting various FAA facilities to engineer solutions and contribute to continuous improvement in aviation safety. Despite some criticism from critics, Duffy defended the decision to involve SpaceX engineers, stating that they are there to observe and help craft a phased approach to fixing the American aviation system.

Duffy emphasized the need to modernize the outdated air traffic control system, comparing it to using a rotary phone in a cell phone era. He stressed the importance of upgrading the infrastructure to ensure the safety of air travel. The recent D.C. crash, which claimed the lives of all 67 individuals on board both aircraft, highlighted the urgent need for these improvements.

In response to claims about an increase in aviation incidents during the Trump administration compared to the Biden administration, Duffy clarified that there were 57 incidents during Biden’s first month in office, compared to 35 under Trump. He underscored the necessity for immediate improvement in safety infrastructure.

The collaboration between SpaceX engineers and the FAA marks a significant step towards modernizing the air traffic control system and ensuring the safety of air travel. This joint effort reflects a commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of transportation.