GAO / OIG Uncovers inept FAA failing on Next Gen Implementation

Your Reps in Washington need to closely examine the two GAO reports on the FAA and ARC before they throw their support behind a massive funding increases for investment in the what now seems an extensive boondoggle called Next Gen. The FAA is failing on a large scale according to the New Studies.

Your Reps will suffer a great political liability by voting in favor of FAA Funding Authorization after reading these GAO reports. Major restructuring in the FAA is needed before Congress signs a legendary taxpayer funded check for the greatest funding increase in the history of the Agency.

Here is the GAO report Summary:

Next Generation Air Transportation System: FAA Faces Challenges in Responding to Task Force Recommendations
GAO-10-188T October 28, 2009

Internet Link: http://gaonet.gov/products/GAO-10-188T

Actions Needed to Meet Expectations for the Next Generation Air Transportation System in the Mid–Term

Date: October 28, 2009

Type: Testimony

Project ID:

CC-2010-001
Internet Link: http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2557

Summary:

On October 28, 2009, the Inspector General testified before the House Subcommittee on Aviation regarding FAA actions required to address the recommendations of a joint Government/Industry task force report for achieving mid–term goals for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).

The Inspector General noted that NextGen is a high risk effort and a top management challenge for the Department and FAA. A number of operational and management decisions must be addressed to successfully transition to NextGen and address the task force’s recommendations. These include maximizing the benefits of performance based navigation initiatives and managing NextGen efforts as integrated portfolios of investments. The Inspector General noted that the findings of the task force are consistent with our work but also identified several new areas for FAA’s attention.

To move beyond endorsing the task force’s recommendations, the Inspector General stated that FAA must set realistic expectations for NextGen. Specifically, FAA must: (1) develop plans to initiate action and establish a 5–year funding profile for the NextGen mid–term, (2) establish metrics for assessing and measuring progress, and (3) develop and implement a strategy for linking near– and mid–term efforts with the Agency’s long–term plans for transforming the National Airspace System.