In 1903, just before Christmas in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, two brothers dove headfirst into frigid winds testing the ability of their latest invention to hover above the ground. After many failed attempts, and countless critics dismissing them as “chasing a fantasy,” the Wright Brothers recorded the first flight. It lasted a mere 12 seconds, but little did they know that just a few decades later, their drive and innovation would forever change the world. 

That pioneering spirit defines America’s aviation story. Today, more than 3 million people fly on airplanes every single day. Civil aviation contributes more than $1 trillion to America’s GDP, accounting for millions of jobs and connecting families, businesses, and communities. Air travel is not just a convenience. It is a pillar of the modern American economy and a backbone of our national security. Yet with so much riding on it, our air traffic controllers - not to mention the American flying public - are relying on technology that belongs in a museum, hoping it works and is safe. 

Stepping inside a control tower today feels like time travel. The towers themselves are antiquated. You’re likely to see computer systems running on software that still relies on floppy disks. Controllers shuffle paper and pencil flight strips instead of using modern digital systems. This manual process was cutting edge in the 1960s, but in........

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