(Based on reporting by David Shepardson for Reuters and FAA statements.)
The Common Automation Platform (CAP), a single, modern data and automation system to replace the current ERAM and STARS systems, is now the FAA’s preferred solution for overhauling U.S. air traffic control, the agency said in a request for industry input released in November 2025. The move aims to unify en route and terminal flight tracking and reduce chronic delays tied to antiquated systems.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA officials have framed CAP as part of a multi-billion-dollar modernization push: Congress approved $12.5 billion for ATC overhaul in July 2025, and the administration is seeking an additional $19 billion to complete the work. The FAA has also identified potential prime integrator candidates and is seeking proposals to manage the effort.
What the FAA is asking for (FAA CAP RFI)
- The FAA wants industry input on developing a single platform that merges ERAM (which manages high-altitude en-route traffic) and STARS (terminal radar approach control and tower sequencing) into a unified system called CAP. The agency’s RFI describes goals of improved safety, lower maintenance complexity and better scalability for emerging airspace users (drones, UAM).
- The RFI also signals the FAA’s intent to name a prime integrator (a single project manager) to coordinate systems, suppliers and modernization milestones, Peraton and Parsons/IBM are publicly named candidates. The integrator model is intended to reduce fragmentation and speed delivery.
Why consolidation matters (air traffic control modernization)
- Today ERAM and STARS operate separately; consolidating them into CAP would reduce data handoffs between centers and TRACONs, lower software maintenance burdens, and enable more consistent conflict detection and flow management across the national airspace. The FAA says CAP will “strengthen safety, reduce delays, and ensure America’s airspace is prepared for the future.”
- Regulators and airlines say the current patchwork of legacy systems contributes to congestion and fragility. A recent government report found many FAA telecom systems are unsustainable, and officials have described times when parts had to be sourced on marketplaces due to spares shortages, underscoring the need for modernization.
Funding, politics and procurement
- Funding: Congress approved $12.5bn in July 2025 as a down payment for NextGen/ATC overhaul; Secretary Duffy has publicly requested an additional $19bn to finish the program. The combined funding would cover systems, new centers, cyber hardening and workforce expansion.
- Procurement model: FAA is likely to appoint a single prime integrator to coordinate implementation. Two frontrunners reported by Reuters and industry press are Peraton and Parsons (with IBM). The integrator will manage subcontractors, ensure interoperability and oversee transition safety cases.
Industry implications & risks
- Supply-chain / prime integrator risk: Centralising project management in one integrator reduces coordination overhead but concentrates program risk; the integrator must align software, hardware, cybersecurity and continuity plans across hundreds of facilities.
- Workforce & operations: Implementation will require retraining controllers, staged rollouts to avoid service interruptions and redundancy planning so traffic remains safe during migration. Hiring remains a separate challenge: the overhaul coincides with FAA efforts to recruit and retain thousands of controllers.
Timeline
- July 2025: Congress approves $12.5bn for ATC modernization.
- Sept 2025: Peraton and Parsons/IBM emerge as prime-integrator bidders.
- Nov 17–20, 2025: FAA issues RFI for the Common Automation Platform (CAP) and seeks industry input.
What FAA, DOT and stakeholders say
- FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford: “Under this Administration’s leadership, we’re going to give our hard-working air traffic controllers the technology they deserve at their fingertips.” (FAA statement).
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said the FAA needs Congress to fully fund the program and mentioned the agency’s spare-parts challenges as evidence of system fragility.
What’s next? industry watchlist
- Prime integrator award: Watch for an FAA announcement naming the prime integrator, a major contracting decision that will shape vendor markets.
- Congressional appropriations: The additional $19bn request must be debated and approved by Congress; funding outcomes will determine schedule and scope.
- Safety case & rollout plan: Monitor FAA transition plans and safety cases for staged CAP deployments to ensure traffic continuity during migration.
Sources
- Reuters, FAA wants new air traffic control data system as part of overhaul (David Shepardson).
- FAA newsroom, FAA Seeks Solutions for New Air Traffic Automation System (CAP) (Nov 17, 2025).
- Reuters, Trump administration needs another $19 billion to fully revamp air traffic control (Jul 16, 2025).
- Reuters, Two bidders vie to be project manager of massive FAA US air-traffic overhaul (Sep 25, 2025).
- Aerotime / industry coverage of FAA CAP RFI and market implications.
