Davids Tours Olathe Air Traffic Control Center, Renews Call for Urgent Aviation Safety Reforms Following Air Collision

OLATHE, KS – Today, Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) toured the Air Route Traffic Control Center in Olathe. She emphasized the urgent need to invest in air traffic control staffing and safety infrastructure following a recent air collision involving a passenger aircraft and military helicopter originating from Wichita.

Davids, a member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Aviation Subcommittee, was joined by Dave Spero, President of Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), which staffs a portion of the center in Olathe. Amid staffing shortages, President Trump recently fired hundreds of air safety workers across the country.

“Air traffic controllers and safety specialists are doing critical, high-stakes work every single day to keep travelers safe. But right now, they’re understaffed and being stretched too thin,” said Davids. “Even though our skies remain the safest in the world, we can’t afford to wait to modernize our aviation systems and fully staff our control centers. I’ll keep working to ensure we have the resources and upgrades needed to protect passengers and prevent future tragedies — in Kansas and across the country.”

Davids and Spero toured the operations floor, where controllers communicate with pilots, as well as the Mid-States Operations Control Center (which monitors airport systems), the automation department (which manages air traffic technology), and the environmental systems area (which oversees HVAC and air quality). Throughout, they emphasized the need to modernize infrastructure and improve air safety.

“Rep. Sharice Davids has proven to be a strong and reliable partner in supporting the aviation community,” said Dave Spero, President, PASS. “The FAA employees represented by PASS perform essential duties that help ensure the safety and effectiveness of air travel across the United States. Through her steadfast support, Rep. Davids continues to uplift the work of these dedicated federal employees and prioritize the investments needed to keep our skies safe and our aviation system operating smoothly.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employs fewer than 11,000 fully certified controllers — well below recommended levels — forcing many to work overtime in high-pressure environments. Following a recent plane collision and ongoing concerns, Davids has taken multiple steps to improve air safety:

• Confronting Workforce and Safety Gaps
  • During a House T&I hearing, Davids highlighted how controller shortages and outdated technology endanger passengers.
  • She condemned President Trump’s decision to fire hundreds of FAA employees and urged DOT Secretary Sean Duffy to implement staffing and safety reforms passed in the FAA Reauthorization Act.
• Calling Out Conflicts of Interest
  • Davids called attention to a potential conflict after Elon Musk suggested the FAA cancel a $2.4 billion contract with Verizon in favor of his company, Starlink.

• Responding to the Recent Collision
  • After the incident, Davids again pushed Secretary Duffy to swiftly carry out aviation safety reforms included in the FAA Reauthorization.
  • When the NTSB released its preliminary report, she called on the FAA to adopt its early recommendations to help prevent future tragedies.
• Modernizing Outdated Systems
  • In a separate hearing, Davids pressed former FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, who served under former President Biden, on the slow pace of modernizing critical landing systems.
    • She noted that 81 percent of Kansas’ systems are functionally obsolete and, at the current replacement rate, it would take over a century to update them — calling for urgent action to ensure Kansans’ safety.