Correspondence

In response to requests from Representatives Dana Rohrabacher and Bart Gordon, and Senators Fritz Hollings and John McCain, we provided information on FAA’s fiscal year 2003 budget request for research, engineering, and development (RE&D). FAA is requesting $126.7 million for RE&D—almost $70 million less than last year’s request, primarily because TSA has assumed responsibility for security research. FAA plans major investments in modernizing the National Airspace System and in airport-related research. About 80 percent of its research plans involve goals for improving safety to reduce commercial and general aviation fatalities and improve overall system safety.