Hurdles Remain For NextGen Air Traffic Control

U.S. agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), still face challenges in creating a state-of-the-art air traffic control system needed to meet increasing demand for air traffic, according to a new government report.

The current U.S. air traffic control system is reaching its capacity limits as demand for air transportation grows. The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) represents a new system that will use state-of-the-art technologies and procedures. Transitioning to NextGen will require the FAA to continue to sustain the current air traffic control system while acquiring new systems on schedule and on budget.

In 2003, Congress authorized the creation of the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO), housed within FAA, to plan NextGen and coordinate the transition.

FAA and JPDO continue to face a number of challenges in moving toward NextGen, including questions about FAA’s technical and contract management expertise; FAA’s ability to maintain a number of existing systems, including monitoring and addressing equipment outages to ensure the safety of these existing systems as it transitions to NextGen; and conducting necessary human factors research.

That's according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which is the nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress.

"In addition, while JPDO recently estimated that the total federal cost for NextGen infrastructure through 2025 will range between $15 billion and $22 billion, questions remain about which entities will fund and conduct the necessary research, development, and demonstration projects that will be key to achieving certain NextGen capabilities," GAO says. "Also, JPDO faces a continuing challenge in ensuring the involvement of all key stakeholders, such as active air traffic controllers and system technicians, in its NextGen planning efforts."

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