FAA defends big budget hike for new air traffic control system - Nextgov
"It's hard to see what the cumulative result of [NextGen] is yet because it is so complex and comprehensive," said Committee Chairman John Olver, D-Mass. "Early implementation efforts have been hampered by unclear roles. . . . Has there been any progress in defining [that]?"
Hank Krakowski, chief operating officer at FAA's Air Traffic Organization, said ERAM is fundamental to NextGen, which means it needs to be deployed correctly. The technology, currently operating in Salt Lake City, recently was taken offline to correct numerous software and interface problems. While following the program's rollout schedule is important, it won't drive the agency to deploy the system before it is deemed safe, he said.
Lawmakers also expressed concern that FAA hasn't provided estimates for how much it will cost to equip aircraft with Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B), a new data-based position-monitoring system designed to improve communications between pilots and air traffic controllers. Without the projections, panel members said they are unsure how much money will be needed to complete the project.
Babbitt said the equipment for the ADS-B can be inexpensively installed in aircraft, particularly when compared to the ground equipment needed for the current system. "Everybody equipped is everybody best served," he said. "If more aircraft are equipped, our entire system runs better.
He was reluctant to provide how much it would cost on a per-aircraft basis, but said the upgrade would be a multibillion-dollar effort.
Krakowski said the agency wants to avoid spending money updating systems only to have to replace them when NextGen technologies are ready.