Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) research and development activities pay an important role in producing new technology to enhance the efficiency and the safety of the U.S. air traffic control system. But the agency continues to face challenges in developing new air traffic control and security technologies. Its overall program to develop new technology is in transition. Although GAO is encouraged by the reforms and the initiatives under way at FAA, it remains to be seen if they will improve the agency's ability to develop and ultimately deploy new technology.