Integration of Current Implementation Efforts with Long-term Planning for the Next Generation Air Transportation System Page: 2 of 11
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Plan (IWP). Recently, FAA has shifted its focus from the longer term (i.e., beyond
2018) and emphasized improvements that can be implemented in the near term and
midterm (2010 through 2018). The shift responds, in part, to concerns expressed by
stakeholders and Members of Congress about the lack of progress in FAA's
implementation of NextGen, which they view as reminiscent of the schedule delays
and other issues that plagued FAA's previous air traffic control modernization efforts.
This shift is embodied in FAA's 2010 NextGen Implementation Plan, which responds
to priorities put forward by stakeholders for NextGen implementation by the
NextGen Mid-Term Implementation Task Force (the Task Force).4 Members of
Congress also have expressed concern that shifting too much focus to the near term
may result in FAA's not taking actions that must be taken now to enable capabilities
envisioned over the long term.
In April 2010, we testified before the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure's Subcommittee on Aviation regarding issues related to integrating
near-, mid-, and long-term NextGen activities.5 In July 2010, we reported on NextGen
metrics, discussing information related to FAA's goals and milestones for NextGen.'
This report summarizes and expands on previously reported information, as
requested, and addresses (1) the extent to which FAA has clearly identified the
NextGen capabilities that it plans to implement in the near, mid, and long term;
(2) whether FAA and the Senior Policy Committee have laid out specific performance
goals or metrics for delivering NextGen capabilities; and (3) the extent to which FAA
has examined long-term NextGen benefits to make a business case for airlines to
equip their aircraft with the advanced avionics needed for NextGen operations.
To accomplish our objectives, we drew primarily upon prior reports and testimonies
as we have previously described. In those reports and testimonies, we obtained and
reviewed information from FAA's NextGen Integration and Implementation Office,
Air Traffic Organization, and JPDO about NextGen plans that describe the
capabilities that FAA is pursuing as well as reports used to justify NextGen programs
before investment decisions are made, and that describe the metrics FAA uses to
monitor program implementation and performance. In addition, we reviewed FAA
performance reports and other documents that describe FAA's broader performance
metrics and additional NextGen performance metrics that FAA is considering. We
also reviewed FAA's modeling efforts designed to identify long-term NextGen
capabilities, costs, and benefits. We interviewed key officials in these offices and
organizations, as well as key staff of the Senior Policy Committee, and several key
stakeholders for NextGen, including representatives from airlines; equipment
4RTCA, Inc., NextGen Mid-Term Implementation Task Force Report (Washington, D.C.: Sept. 9, 2009).
5GAO, Next Generation Air Transportation System: Challenges with Partner Agency and FAA
Coordination Continue, and Efforts to Integrate Near-, Mid-, and Long-term Activities Are
Ongoing, GAO-10-649T (Washington, D.C.: Apr. 21, 2010).
6GAO, NextGen Air Transportation System: FAA's Metrics Can Be Used to Report on Status of
Individual Programs, but Not of Overall NextGen Implementation of Outcomes, GAO-10-629
(Washington, D.C.: July 27, 2010).GAO-11-132R NextGen Long-term Issues
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United States. Government Accountability Office. Integration of Current Implementation Efforts with Long-term Planning for the Next Generation Air Transportation System, text, November 22, 2010; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc297036/m1/2/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.