Assigning Air Traffic Control Costs to Users: Elements of FAA's Methodology Are Generally Consistent with Standards but Certain Assumptions and Methods Need Additional Support
Highlights
In January 2007 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported the results of its study that assigned the fiscal year 2005 costs of its Air Traffic Organization (ATO) to users. FAA used this study to support the President's proposal to replace many current excise taxes with cost-based fees for commercial aviation users and higher fuel taxes for general aviation users. GAO assessed (1) the consistency of FAA's cost assignment methodology with established standards and guidance, (2) the support for selected cost assignment assumptions and methods, and (3) the impact of including budgeted capital costs in the cost baseline. GAO compared FAA's methodology to federal accounting standards and international guidance, reviewed available documents and analyses supporting FAA's assumptions and methods, and interviewed FAA officials and consultants.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | To provide additional support for the reasonableness of FAA's cost assignment methodology and to monitor Facilities and Equipment (F&E) cost assignments to users, the Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator of FAA to adequately document the basis on which costs are assigned to user groups. |
On May 6, 2011, FAA informed us that it had decided not to continue development of a cost model for assigning air traffic control costs to users.
|
| Department of Transportation | To provide additional support for the reasonableness of FAA's cost assignment methodology and to monitor F&E cost assignments to users, the Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator of FAA to evaluate the methods and basis upon which various overhead, indirect, and other miscellaneous costs are assigned to user groups and document the effect of any changes thereto. |
On May 6, 2011, FAA informed us that it had decided not to continue development of a cost model for assigning air traffic control costs to users.
|
| Department of Transportation | To provide additional support for the reasonableness of FAA's cost assignment methodology and to monitor F&E cost assignments to users, the Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator of FAA to determine whether and quantify the extent to which commercial, general aviation, and exempt users who use either single type of aircraft--turbine or piston--impose costs differently on the air traffic control system. |
On May 6, 2011, FAA informed us that it had decided not to continue development of a cost model for assigning air traffic control costs to users.
|
| Department of Transportation | To provide additional support for the reasonableness of FAA's cost assignment methodology and to monitor F&E cost assignments to users, the Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator of FAA to establish a mechanism for monitoring, by user group, any cumulative difference between original cost allocations for budgeted facilities and equipment project costs and actual usage of those assets, and adjusting prospective cost assignments accordingly. |
On May 6, 2011, FAA informed us that it had decided not to continue development of a cost model for assigning air traffic control costs to users.
|