Air Traffic Control Modernization (NextGen)
On February 14, 2012, a major Committee initiative to improve the nation’s airport and aviation infrastructure, create jobs, modernize our antiquated pre-World War II air traffic control system, improve aviation safety, and save taxpayers money through significant reforms of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was signed into law.
The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (H.R. 658) sets the long-term federal policy for a vital segment of the nation's economy. This measure was introduced in the House by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri (R-WI).
The nation’s air traffic control system is still dependent on radar technology, first developed prior to World War II. NextGen is the long-term modernization project that includes replacing ground-based radar with GPS and satellite-based surveillance. Ensuring that NextGen is successfully developed will reduce air traffic delays, cut down on emissions and pollution, and lower costs for consumers.
In addition, without adequate oversight and guidance, the potential for wasting taxpayers’ money through a poorly managed NextGen program is substantial.
Important provisions in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act provide a blueprint for Next Gen, setting milestones and metrics, and helping improve management and accountability for this ongoing project:
- Prioritizes programs for developing the nation’s Next Generation Air Traffic Control System (NextGen), which will modernize our antiquated technology and improve aviation efficiency;
- Reforms NextGen governance to assure accountability for progress in this important modernization project –
- Establishes a Chief NextGen Officer as the single point of accountability for NextGen Implementation at FAA.
- Raises the position authority of the interagency FAA planning officer to an Associate Administrator level.
- Requires biannual meetings of the Cabinet Secretaries in charge of delivering NextGen, raising senior level accountability for NextGen progress.
- Lack of FAA standards on NextGen avionics have hindered job growth in avionics manufacturing. The bill sets deadlines for FAA action to develop standards for GPS-based avionics that will replace radar;
- Sets deadlines for FAA action on publishing more efficient GPS-based flight paths, and streamlining environmental reviews;
- Establishes objective performance metrics for the national airspace system that will be used to measure FAA’s progress in delivering NextGen benefits;
- Provides for the inclusion of aviation stakeholders in the development of NextGen;
- Authorizes public private partnerships providing financial instruments to incentivize NextGen avionics equipage;
- Directs the FAA Administrator to develop operational incentives for NextGen equipage.
