Contributor

Andrew Wood

A <a href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-223">report released last week by the Government Accountability Office</a> (GAO) criticizes the FAA for lax program cost and schedule monitoring and control related to its air traffic control modernization effort. Of 30 NextGen programs the GAO examined, 11 have experienced cost increases over their original estimates by $4.2 billion, representing more than 60 percent of the agency’s total delay costs for these programs. Schedules were also affected in 15 out of the 30 programs, ranging from two months to more than 14 years, and averaging 48 months.


Top cost hogs were Waas and the Standard Terminal Replacement System (Stars), with initial startup estimates of $1 billion in 1998 and $940 million in 1996, respectively. Waas is forecast to be completed next year at a total cost of $3 billion, while Stars finished in 2007 for $2.7 billion. Though Stars was planned to provide 172 systems at nationwide Tracons and towers, in the end it supplied only 47.


As a consequence of the FAA’s poor cost and schedule monitoring and control, the GAO notably dedicated 90 of the report’s 150 pages to detailing precisely what data and actions related to its programs will be expected of the agency in the future.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

FAA Rapped On NextGen Cost/Schedule Overruns

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Industry group praises prioritizing safety and workforce support

AIA Endorses FAA Funding in FY2026 Proposal

Kerry Lynch

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Department of Commerce taking comments through June 3

NBAA Urges Members To Stress Trade Importance To Gov’t

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Rep. Nadler has co-sponsored a half-dozen bills in recent years to curb helo ops

U.S. Lawmakers Seek To Bar Helicopters in New York City

FAA told to ‘hire, hire, hire’ in its safety workforce

FAA Official: ‘Don't Over-engineer’ SMS

Charles Alcock

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

EBAA says industry still faces discrimination and ‘irrational’ decisions

Business Aviation Asserts Role in European Recovery

Curt Epstein

Out-of-scope operators are being erroneously charged

Business Aviation Customers Feel the RefuelEU Pinch

The airport is reducing peak access due to construction

CBAA Protests Reduced Bizav Slot Allocation at Montreal

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

More In Regulations and Government