Regulations and Government
DOT Inspector General Faults FAA’s NextGen R&D Plan
The FAA needs to work on its long-term vision for the NextGen Air Transportation System, according to the DOT Office of Inspector General.

After the FAA “failed to establish a clearly defined role” for the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) and did not “set expectations for leveraging research at other federal agencies,” the U.S. Congress cut JPDO funding. The JPDO was supposed to lead the effort to plan for implementation of the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) and to coordinate this effort with other government agencies, according to a Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG) Audit Report issued on August 25.