If the past couple of weeks have taught us anything, it’s that we shouldn’t take for granted the infrastructure that keeps us safe on the ground — but we should also remain keenly aware of the infrastructure that keeps us safe while in the air.

Air travel is a hugely important part of Rhode Island’s economy, with Warwick’s airport responsible for transporting thousands of people each week and opening up our state to commerce from around the country. RIAC’s success translates to success for Rhode Island.

That’s why the recent troubles that beset Southwest Airlines — T.F. Green’s most popular airline — and the FAA’s computer glitch that grounded thousands of flights a week ago, raise legitimate questions about how secure and reliable this most-important form of transportation truly is.

If reports regarding the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system are correct, and the issue stemmed from a simple corrupt database file, then the obvious question to be asked revolves around the age and reliability of the electronic technology that manages these most crucial safety systems. That is a problem which can be resolved with better awareness, better maintenance, and more targeted, strategic funding. If the problem stemmed from something more nefarious, such as a cyber attack (for which there has been no official evidence to support at this time, at least not reported by official sources), then it’s an entirely different situation outside the realm of any municipal government.

What Rhode Island can do locally, at least, is ensure through keen diligence and oversight that Green Airport and RIAC are doing everything possible to keep systems updated and as modern as possible, so other similar incidents cannot occur within our own state.