Bolen Champions Industry’s Commitment for ATC Modernization on Podcast Reaching Millions

Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, [email protected]

Washington, DC, Sept. 15, 2025 - National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen said the U.S. needs to seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a brand-new air traffic control (ATC) system in a new interview with Freakonomics Radio, a thought-leadership podcast heard by millions of listeners each week, including Washington's most influential policymakers.

For an episode now available on podcast apps and the web, Bolen emphasized that ATC modernization is a national imperative for all aviation, including the entrepreneurs in and companies in business aviation, an essential American industry.

Listen to comments offered by Bolen in the Freakonomics podcast on NBAA's YouTube channel.

"Everybody in the air transportation system wants the U.S. to have the largest, safest and most efficient air transportation system in the world, with the most diverse aircraft and operations," Bolen told Freakonomics Radio, whose interview is featured in the second of a two-part podcast series on ATC modernization.

"What we have seen since Jan. 29 is a unified aviation industry," Bolen continued. "Airlines, labor, business aviation, all of general aviation - we've all united in a coalition known as Modern Skies," referring to a group of more than 50 stakeholders, including NBAA, supporting aviation system transformation. "There's a unanimity of purpose and resolve. We've got a deadline, we've got the leadership, and we've got the first kickstart of money."

ATC modernization has been at the top of Washington's agenda following a series of troubling incidents and tragic accidents this year, including a January 2025 midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) involving a regional airliner and a military helicopter.

The administration, led by Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy, has called for $12.5 billion as a down payment for investments in ATC staffing and training, facilities, technologies and other equipment. Bolen joined a group of industry leaders in an event hosted by Duffy earlier this year to unveil the DOT's plan. In July, Congress approved and President Trump signed into law a wide-ranging budget reconciliation bill containing $12.5 billion in funding for ATC upgrades.

Bolen underscored business aviation's support for the legislation, noting the industry's importance to citizens, companies and communities.

"Eighty-five percent of the business aviation companies in the United States are small and mid-sized companies," Bolen said. In fact, he noted, "The best companies - whether you look at that as earnings per share, most admired brands, best places to work - through the years, companies that utilize and leverage business aviation outperform those companies that do not."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to award a contract for an ATC system integrator and solution in the coming weeks - a plan welcomed by NBAA and other stakeholder groups.

Bolen concluded by telling the Freakonomics podcast host: "We all know that on Jan. 29, we had a commercial accident that took place over the Potomac River, in the shadow of our nation's capital. It was the first major commercial airline accident in 15 years, and it was horrific, tragic and it broke our hearts.

"But it also steeled our resolve to build a brand-new air traffic control system, and not be distracted by other issues that have come up in the past. We also have seen that the president of the United States, the secretary of transportation, Congress and the general public are saying this is a national imperative."

Freakonomics Radio has between 1 million and 2 million listeners per podcast, and as many as 11 million listeners per month. It's a top 10 documentary podcast on Apple, and one of the 20 most popular society and culture podcasts available on Spotify.

Listen to the full episode in its entirety: An Air Traffic Controller Walks Into a Radio Studio …

Listen to Part 1 of the series in its entirety: Is the Air Traffic Control System Broken?

The episode will soon air on National Public Radio stations across the country.

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Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world's largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.

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