A Congressional hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 5, will examine the costs, benefits, progress and management of the FAA’s NextGen air traffic control modernization program.
Wednesday’s hearing, chaired by U.S. Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis), will focus on the FAA’s progress in delivering measureable benefits to aviation users, as well as the agency’s projections for future benefits to be gained from federal and industry investment. The FAA has promised efficiency gains through NextGen by optimizing air traffic controller performance, consolidating obsolete facilities, enhanced safety improvements, and improved operational efficiency of the national airspace system. For example, the FAA estimates that with NextGen aviation users will save 1.4 billion gallons of fuel and see a 14 million ton reduction in carbon emissions through 2018. However, the airspace users who will be asked to invest in expensive NextGen compatible avionics must have confidence in FAA’s ability to manage the program and deliver the benefits.
Wednesday’s hearing will allow the FAA an opportunity to highlight the specific goals and upcoming milestones of the program and provide an update on the measurable NextGen benefits delivered to date. Federal auditors will also provide an assessment of the FAA’s management and implementation of the NextGen program. Click here for more information about this hearing.
A live webcast of the 10 a.m. (EST) hearing will be available at Transportation.house.gov
Witness include:
- Michael P. Huerta, FAA Deputy Administrator
- Captain Lee Moak, President, Air Line Pilots Association International
- Edward M. Bolen, President and CEO, National Business Aviation Association
- Tom Captain, Vice Chairman, Principal, U.S. Aerospace and Defense Sector Leader, Deloitte LLP
- Calvin L. Scovel, III, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Transportation
- Dr. Gerald L. Dillingham, Director, Physical Infrastructure Division, Government Accountability Office
- Thomas Hendricks, Vice President for Operations and Safety, Air Transport Association
