The U.S. air transportation system is the safest in the world. It also is a vital part of our national, regional and local economies, serving an array of travelers and facilitating the movement of cargo to points all over the world with a remarkable record of environmental efficiency. This system depends on an air traffic control network that safely and expeditiously guides airplanes from departure to destination.

Unfortunately, we are reaching the outer limits of what our current air traffic control system can handle. The system was built in the 1950s — before the jet age and the advent of advanced avionics — and it has not undergone significant modernization since then. In addition to a sharp rise in the demand for commercial air travel, the number of corporate aircraft in our skies has boomed — resulting in unprecedented congestion.

The current air traffic control system was never intended to handle so many aircraft, and delays are on the rise. The cost of such delays amounts to more than inconvenience, particularly to states — such as Hawai'i — that depend on an efficient transportation system as part of a healthy economy. In addition, delays add unnecessary emissions and cause travelers to lose time and productivity. Delays also cause cargo shipments to arrive late, slowing our "just in time" economy.

In Hawai'i, where tourism is the No. 1 industry, commercial aviation plays a more vital role — in 2004, for example, it generated $9.6 billion for the state economy. Projects planned for Honolulu International Airport, such as $10 million in terminal improvements, recognize the need to build capacity to accommodate a rise in demand.

An air traffic control system that hampers growth and restricts air transportation has far-reaching implications for every community it serves. The current system is outdated in its reliance on radar and analog radio in a digital, Global Positioning System-enabled world. Just as outdated is its funding system, which charges airline customers for the vast majority of system expenses while giving business aircraft (which outnumber the commercial fleet 2 to 1) an essentially "free ride."

The air traffic control system of tomorrow will replace our current ground-based architecture with satellite-based tools that can handle the ever-increasing demands of our economy. At the same time, we need to establish a fair and equitable funding system that does not force passengers to and around the Islands to subsidize luxury corporate aircraft.

To implement new technology and accommodate traffic increases, a modern system must increase capacity and enable growth for the future. Congress will have an opportunity to address these two goals — and to fund them — when it considers the reauthorization of legislation that funds the Federal Aviation Administration.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye has called air transportation "the lifeline to Hawai'i's economy and its residents." Indeed, a safe, modern air transportation system benefits everyone. With more passengers traveling to Hawai'i than ever before, the importance of the system to the region — and to the nation — has never been clearer. It's time to build for our future.

Jim May is president and chief executive officer of the Air Transport Association (ATA). Previously, he was executive vice president of the National Association of Broadcasters. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.