DOT OIG Report Highlights FAA’s Hits and Misses on NextGen ATC Upgrade | Aviation International News

Report Highlights FAA’s Hits and Misses on NextGen

Program fails to transform the U.S. ATC system, but FAA says benefits still exceed the costs

As most followers of the FAA’s NextGen program know, the backbone of the whole thing will be the en route advanced modernization (Eram) system.

By Gordon Gilbert • Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

October 3, 2025

A newly released Capstone Memorandum report from the U.S. DOT Office of Inspector General (OIG) analyzes what it considers the successes and failures of the FAA’s planned NextGen air traffic control (ATC) modernization program. That program, launched more than 20 years ago, is officially being scrapped in favor of a new ATC infrastructure modernization program proposed by the Trump Administration.

Launched in 2003, NextGen was one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in U.S. history—an estimated $36 billion effort to modernize the nation’s aging air transportation system. Since 2006, OIG has issued 50 reports addressing NextGen and related programs and made more than 200 recommendations to improve FAA management and execution of NextGen programs, coordination with stakeholders, analysis of benefits, and more.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

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