Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford said the nation's air traffic control system is safe but operates inefficiently due to reliance on decades-old computing technology.

Bedford told CBS News he has confidence in the system as the summer travel season begins, despite hundreds of FAA facilities running on technology from previous decades. The administrator noted that much of the infrastructure dates back to the 1970s and 1980s.

According to Bedford, the outdated technology creates reliability risks for the system. He described the current setup as using computing power and compact disks from decades past, calling the situation problematic for modern aviation needs.

The comments come as air travel demand increases during the peak summer season, when the aviation system faces its heaviest usage. While Bedford emphasized that safety standards are maintained, he indicated that technological upgrades are needed to improve operational efficiency.

The FAA oversees the nation's air traffic control system, which handles thousands of flights daily across the United States. The administrator's remarks highlight ongoing challenges with infrastructure modernization in critical transportation systems.