CFS 2026: “From Legacy to Leading Edge” Puts NAS Modernization Under the Microscope

A $12.5 billion bet on the future of the National Airspace System (NAS) took center stage as NATCA Executive Vice President (EVP) Emeritus and IFATCA EVP Professional Trish Gilbert, Peraton National Aerospace Solutions Sector President Justin Ciaccio, FAA Deputy Assistant Administrator Rebecca Guy, and NATCA National Program Management Office (PMO) Representative Dan Hamilton dug into what it takes to replace decades-old systems without slowing anyone down. The panel discussed how government, industry, and labor should be working together to modernize the nation’s aviation infrastructure. Panelists explored the progress made to date, the challenges of implementing modernization at scale, the critical role of transparent communication, stakeholder engagement and cooperation and what this transformation means for the safety, efficiency, and resilience of the NAS for decades to come. natca.org/events/cfs