EXCLUSIVE — A bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers is pressing Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Department personnel to coordinate more efficiently between themselves and with commercial groups to protect the Sunshine State as a leading partner in aerospace advancements.
In a letter sent to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on Tuesday, the Florida delegation is urging the agencies to establish an Airspace Coordination Team composed of government and industry partners. The lawmakers wrote that between the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center, there have been 93 launches that brought nearly 1,400 orbital assets into space.
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But the lawmakers say there is “fragmentation” within the FAA over the agency’s ability to coordinate with the U.S. military and the commercial airspace industry on projects and air traffic control.
“With the demand for launches expected to significantly increase in the coming years, challenges associated with the inefficiency of communication amongst those who operate within and around the vicinity of Cape Canaveral have exposed our commercial, defense, and tourism partners to unnecessary risk and delay,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter shared first with the Washington Examiner. “Such a lack of coordination and communication has already led to significant setbacks for our commercial partners when it comes to notifying Florida partners who operate within the vicinity of the Cape Canaveral.”
The Airspace Coordination Team, which would function as a formal advisory commission, would allow all stakeholders to have a spot at the table to “align priorities, streamline efforts, and coordinate operations for maximum efficiency” for those who operate along the shore of Cape Canaveral and within its airspace.
“With the growing number of commercial and military launches, it’s critical that we streamline communication and coordination among all stakeholders to keep our skies safe and efficient,” Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “Establishing an Airspace Coordination Team and modernizing our radar and air traffic control systems will strengthen Florida’s leadership in aerospace innovation and ensure the United States maintains its global edge in space.”
The letter also calls on the FAA to modernize its air traffic control systems with current technology to ensure the safety of Florida’s airspace.
The FAA and the Transportation Department have come under fire for delays and cancellations of many commercial flights since the winter. The government shutdown has prompted further problems, as the FAA has reported that many of its facilities are short-staffed. Air traffic controllers, along with Transportation Security Administration officers, are considered essential employees and must work during the shutdown without getting paid. Under federal law, those employees are entitled to back pay.
The letter also pushes the Transportation Department to certify the Space Data Integrator capability, which would accurately track launch trajectory and reentry operations and use other data to create an “open and safe airspace.” The FAA’s rulemaking advisory committee in 2019 recommended this be implemented for air traffic control specialists’ use no later than 2026, per the lawmakers.
Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) said in a statement to the Washington Examiner that Florida is the “cornerstone” of America’s “vibrant aerospace sector.”
“As the world continues to push past the boundaries of earth, it is critical that we preserve Florida’s leadership role in the global space race,” Steube said. “I am honored to join the Florida delegation in calling for Secretary Duffy and FAA Administrator Bedford to improve the efficiency and security of air and space travel by modernizing their respective agencies.”
Those who joined Steube and Gimenez in signing the letter include Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL) and Reps. Aaron Bean (R-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Randy Fine (R-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Mike Haridopolos (R-FL), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Jimmy Patronis (R-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Daniel Webster (R-FL).
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A handful of Florida state lawmakers also joined the letter.
“As a former FAA air traffic controller who worked rocket launch packages and military missions, this is truly my passion,” GOP state Rep. Kim Kendall, who led the state delegation into talks with Washington, said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “We were grateful for the strong interest and support from our federal delegation. At the state level, we’re moving full steam ahead—focused on growing our aerospace sector across the board, from space and military operations to commercial flight, drones, urban air mobility, workforce housing, and education. This is not only vital to our state’s economy but also to our national defense.”