The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent agency that works for Congress. The GAO watches over Congress, and investigates how the federal government spends taxpayers dollars. The Comptroller General of the United States is the leader of the GAO, and is appointed to a 15-year term by the U.S. President. The GAO wants to support Congress, while at the same time doing right by the citizens of the United States. They audit, investigate, perform analyses, issue legal decisions and report anything that the government is doing. This is one of their reports.

The FAA undertook a multibillion-dollar modernization effort in 1981, but it has experienced serious delays. To get the modernization effort back on track, the FAA -- in consultation with the aviation community -- is developing a phased approach to modernization, including a new way of managing air traffic known as "free flight." This report reviews: (1) the status of the FAA's efforts to implement free flight, including a planned operational demonstration formerly known as Flight 2000; and (2) the views of the aviation community and FAA on the challenges that must be met to implement free flight in a cost-effective manner. Tables.

GAO-05-331 National Airspace System: FAA Has Made Progress but Continues to Face Challenges in Acquiring Major Air Traffic Control Systems