FAA Defends Air Traffic Reforms Amid Skepticism

The Federal Aviation Administration defended its 10-year, $11.5-billion air traffic modernization plan in Congress Wednesday as skeptical lawmakers reminded the agency about past failures of big-picture projects.

“In 20 years I’ve seen a lot of plans,” Rep. James L. Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat, told senior agency officials at a House Transportation aviation subcommittee hearing. “I don’t want to see another one gathering dust.”

Subcommittee chairman John L. Mica, a Florida Republican, also sounded a cautious tone.

“I remain skeptical about the FAA’s ability to deliver all of the projects outlined in the time frames detailed within budget,” Mica said. “Hopefully, the FAA understands that cost overruns and schedule delays can no longer be tolerated.”

The agency unveiled its modernization plan last week, calling it an achievable initiative that will increase capacity, reduce delays and position the air traffic system to handle the passenger load on domestic airliners.

Modernization largely encompasses 50 projects or programs either in place or in the pipeline for development that together would fundamentally change the way aircraft are handled. It also calls for new runways and important roles for industry and airports.

Among the modernization goals, the FAA wants to reduce the distance between planes, improve communication between controllers and pilots, open new routes, improve weather forecasting technology and overhaul the way aircraft use the national airspace.

A central goal is to prime the air traffic system for gradual conversion to satellite-based navigation. Planes are currently guided by ground-based radar.

Monte Belger, acting deputy FAA administrator, said management was “personally accountable” for carrying out the new plan and has learned from past mistakes.

“This is not the ‘big-bang,’ high-risk, unproven software programs of the past,” Belger said. “And I think that will help us be successful.”

He told lawmakers the plan is evolutionary and flexible, so if some initiatives do not work out, the entire modernization effort can still move forward.