Summary

Global Positioning System satellites transmit radio signals that allow properly equipped air, land, and sea users to calculate the time and their position and speed in any location and weather condition. Although the system was designed for military purposes, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) intends to develop wide and local area systems to augment the Global Positioning System, enabling it to satisfy the requirements of civil air navigation. This testimony discusses (1) whether FAA will have enough time under its milestones to augment the system, (2) what steps the agency has taken to better manage its global positioning system efforts, and (3) what the implications of delays in implementing the system are.