Next Generation Air Transportation System: Progress and Challenges in Planning and Implementing the Transformation of the National Airspace System

The FAA, incl. its Joint Planning and Dev¿t. Office (JPDO) and Air Traffic Org. (ATO), is planning for and implementing the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) in partnership with other fed. agencies and the aviation industry. NextGen will transform the current radar-based air traffic control system into a more automated, aircraft-centered, satellite-based system. This testimony focuses on: (1) JPDO's and ATO's progress in planning and implementing NextGen; (2) ongoing efforts to implement midterm capabilities to address capacity constraints and delays; (3) the potential impact on NextGen of organizational changes and human capital issues; and (4) R&D and facilities maintenance and reconfiguration challenges going forward. Illus.

Recognizing the need for aviation system transformation to deal with our crowded skies, Congress authorized the Joint Planning & Dev¿t. Office (JPDO), housed within the FAA, to lead a collaborative effort of fed. & non-fed. aviation stakeholders to conceptualize & plan the Next Generation Air Transp. System (NextGen) -- a fundamental redesign & modernization of the nat. airspace system. JPDO operates in conjunction with its partner agencies: the FAA; the DoT, Commerce, DoD, & Homeland Security; NASA; & the White House Office of Science & Tech. Policy. This testimony focuses on the progress that JPDO has made in planning the NextGen initiative & some key issues & challenges that JPDO continues to face. Charts & tables.