On Tuesday major communication outages caused air traffic controllers in Los Angeles to scramble in attempts to reestablish contact with planes in the air, causing numerous delays, several close calls and more than a few headaches. The Bush administration has responded to the incident by citing its need to cut the Federal Aviation Administration's budget for air traffic control equipment by 12.6%, justifiably causing outrage among some within theaviation industry:

Air traffic controllers fear if Congress goes along with the cut it will force them to work with outdated equipment longer and prevent new backup systems from being installed.

Tom Brantley, president of the Professional Airways Systems Specialists union, said the systems that keep track of the planes in the centers between airport towers will soon reach their capacity.

"Cutting the budget by almost 14 percent is insane," said Brantley, who represents the people who maintain air traffic control equipment. "Seventy percent of the systems out there are in need of upgrade or replacement."

Basically, the administration is strapped for funds due to the record deficit and is attempting to conserve wherever it can (which includes, insanely enough, homeland security and education.) The issue with cutting this particular budgetary item is that updated communication equipment is a very good thing for the airline industry — it makes sure planes do not fly into each other and also could be of use if a plane is being hijacked. Just think, if widespread communication blackouts grow in number, terrorists could easily take a plane without anyone on the ground being immediately aware of what is going on within the cockpit until it's too late.

Hold back on that dwindling budget, guys. It only helps make us less safe and all.

More at Digital Dissent.