Aviation Research: Actions to Enhance the Effectiveness of FAA's Research Activities
Highlights
GAO discussed the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Research, Engineering, and Development (RE&D) Program. GAO noted that: (1) FAA has expanded its research in accordance with the Aviation Safety Research Act of 1988; (2) FAA has developed an RE&D plan and conducted research on simulation models of the air traffic control system; (3) FAA has begun to incorporate goals into its RE&D and other programs, but it faces system integration challenges; (4) FAA has not determined how to fully utilize other federal research efforts; (5) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration can complement the RE&D Program by providing research resources to develop satellite technology for future aviation systems; and (6) FAA must resolve several security research issues to meet the high expectations of Congress and the public.