The Status Of The Federal Aviation Administration S Air Traffic Control Modernization Programs

Senate hearing on the modernization program of the air traffic control system, which has taken more than 15 years and consumed many billions of dollars. Witnesses: Senators Richard H. Bryan, Wendel H. Ford, Slade Gorton, and John McCain; Phil Boyer, pres., Aircraft Owner's and Pilots Assoc. (AOPA) Legislative Action; Gerald L. Dillingham, Ph.D., Associate Director, Transportation Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Div., General Accounting Office; Jane Garvey, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); and Margaret T. Jenny, director, airline business and operations analysis, U.S. Airways.

The Fed. Aviation Admin. began to modernize the ATC system in 1981 under a 10-year $12 billion program that comprised 80 projects. In 1991, the modernization effort was redefined incorporating the original projects and about 150 additional ones. Currently, the program is estimated to cost $32.8 billion through the year 2000 and will require an additional $1.3 billion for 2001. This report provides information on the status of modernization of the ATC system. Also contains information on overall costs of air traffic control modernization. Tables.

Addresses the extent to which the FAA Acquisition Mgmt. System provides a comprehensive approach for managing the agency's investments in air traffic control information technology. FAA plans to spend billions of dollars to replace data-processing, navigation, communications, and other systems under its air traffic control modernization program but has a history of poor performance in delivering systems on time and within budget and performance parameters. The report found that FAA has established a structured approach for managing its modernization investments, but weaknesses in this approach limit its effectiveness.