Bolen Tells ATCA Summit: Collaboration, Communication and Determination are Key to BNATCS

Feb. 20, 2026

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said the U.S. has an unprecedented opportunity to modernize its air traffic control system, and that success hinges on clear communication, data-driven decision-making and a steadfast commitment to safety above all else.

Bolen was part of a Feb. 19 panel discussion at the annual Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) Aviation Innovation Summit, which brought together leaders from government, as well as the aviation and tech sectors, to discuss ways to accelerate the FAA’s transformation of the National Airspace System (NAS) and implement a brand-new ATC system.

Bolen’s panel – “From Innovation to Dominance: How the U.S. Will Lead the Next Aviation Revolution” – also included Airlines for America President and CEO Chris Sununu; Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International President and CEO Michael Robbin; and Elwell & Associates Founder and President Dan Elwell. The session was moderated by Harmonic.ai Safety Leader Kate Fraser.

Bolen stressed the importance of data-based advocacy in persuading regulators and policymakers about the imperative to move steadfastly on ATC modernization. “You’ve got to go in with data and know what you’re talking about,” he said, adding that approaching lawmakers with a united coalition – one that shares aligned data and messaging – makes it far easier to gain their support and move modernization forward.

Bolen underscored the urgency of the moment, stating, “This is our time now and we’ve got to seize the opportunity.”

The gathering comes as the federal government works with industry to build a brand-new ATC system, designed to reshape how aircraft of all types operate in the NAS.

Among the government leaders speaking at the summit was DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, who said of the government’s mission to overhaul ATC: “This is our opportunity to do something really hard, and really big, and to pay it forward” for future generations.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford reinforced the fact that modernization will require close collaboration between government and industry, as well as regulatory and technological reforms that accelerate innovation while maintaining the highest levels of safety.

To that end, Bedford recognized the importance of the Modern Skies Coalition and the necessity of industry unity, stating: “We can’t be fractured if we want the system to be modernized. All of us have to speak with one voice.”

NBAA is a founding member of the Modern Skies Coalition, launched in May 2025, which includes about 60 other stakeholder groups, and embodies a unified voice – bringing the industry together to advocate for bold investment in ATC modernization.

In his remarks, Bolen also emphasized that the foundation of modernization must be safety.

“What has brought us all together is safety,” he said. “We’re bound together in remembrance and resolve by an event that happened on Jan. 29, which caused everyone to say, ‘Is it safe to fly?’ We have an opportunity to increase safety, increase efficiency, foster diverse aircraft and diverse operations…We owe it to those families. We owe it to the traveling public. We owe it to the future.”