The Next Generation Air Transportation System's (NextGen) goal is the transformation of the U.S. national airspace system through programs and initiatives that could make it possible to shorten routes, navigate better around weather, save time and fuel, reduce delays, and improve capabilities for monitoring and managing of aircraft. A Review of the Next Generation Air Transportation provides an overview of NextGen and examines the technical activities, including human-system design and testing, organizational design, and other safety and human factor aspects of the system, that will be necessary to successfully transition current and planned modernization programs to the future system. This report assesses technical, cost, and schedule risk for the software development that will be necessary to achieve the expected benefits from a highly automated air traffic management system and the implications for ongoing modernization projects. The recommendations of this report will help the Federal Aviation Administration anticipate and respond to the challenges of implementing NextGen.

The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is an effort begun in 2003 whose goals include improving the capacity, efficiency, and safety of the U.S. air transportation system and also enabling reduction in noise, pollution, and energy use. The Federal Aviation Administration and various stakeholders, including equipment providers, airlines, and contractors, are currently implementing both near-term and midterm capabilities of this effort. Interim Report of a Review of the Next Generation Air Transportation System Enterprise Architecture, Software, Safety, and Human Factors is part of a larger project to examine NextGen's enterprise architecture and related issues. This interim report provides an initial assessment focusing on challenges of system architecture for software-intensive systems.

The FAA is planning and coordinating R&D for the next generation air transportation system (NextGen). Transitioning to the NextGen will require FAA to continue to acquire new air traffic control (ATC) systems on schedule and on budget. NextGen includes system acquisitions but is a significantly larger initiative involving multiple federal agencies, such as NASA, which conducted aeronautics R&D for NextGen, and non-federal aviation stakeholders, such as aviation equipment manufacturers, airports, and aircraft operators. This report addressed: (1) FAA¿s ATC systems acquisition activities; (2) key NextGen planning and transition issues; and (3) key challenges that FAA faces in implementing NextGen. Illustrations.

To prepare for forecasted air traffic growth, the FAA, in partnership with other fed. agencies and the aviation industry, is planning and implementing the Next Generation Air Transport. System (NextGen), a new, satellite-based air traffic mgmt. system that is expected to increase the safety and enhance the capacity of the air transport system. Within FAA, the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) is coordinating efforts to plan for this transition, including developing a 20-year R&D agenda for NextGen. JPDO has drafted 3 planning documents for NextGen -- a Concept of Operations, an Enterprise Architecture, and an Integrated Work Plan. This testimony responds to 6 questions about NextGen, and addresses two related challenges. Illus.