Summary

GAO reviewed the Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration's new rule on reduced vertical separation minimum in domestic United States airspace. GAO found that (1) the rule would permit the initiation of Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum flights in the airspace over the contiguous 48 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Alaska, that portion of the Gulf of Mexico where the Federal Aviation Administration provides air traffic services, the San Juan Flight Information Region (FIR), and the air space between Florida and the San Juan FIR and allow the use of 1,000-foot vertical separation at certain altitudes between aircraft that meet stringent altimeter and autopilot performance requirements; and (2) after publication of the revised effective date, DOT complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.