Air Traffic Control: FAA Should Define the Optimal Advanced Automation System Alternative
IMTEC-89-5
Published: Nov 30, 1988. Publicly Released: Nov 30, 1988.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) plans to acquire the Advanced Automation System (AAS), focusing on FAA compliance with congressional direction to: (1) obtain more technical information and modify test plans before awarding the AAS acquisition contract; and (2) conduct a cost-benefit study.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status Sort descending |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | To ensure effective cost control on the multi-billion dollar AAS acquisition, the Secretary of Transportation should review FAA cost control processes to determine whether improvements, including establishing design-to-cost goals, should be implemented. |
DOT agreed to work with FAA to review potential cost control strategies, including design-to-cost goals.
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| Department of Transportation | To ensure that FAA completes a credible cost-benefit analysis and retains the flexibility to acquire the optimal alternative, the Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, FAA, to conduct an analysis to determine the optimal terminal control alternative: (1) using the data supporting the recently completed cost-benefit study; and (2) comparing a full range of alternative system configurations, capabilities, and locations. |
FAA, through a contractor, has now completed the recommended cost/benefit analysis. The analysis recommends consolidation of a selected number of facilities.
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| Department of Transportation | To ensure that FAA completes a credible cost-benefit analysis and retains the flexibility to acquire the optimal alternative, the Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, FAA, to exclude from new contracts or extensions of existing contracts materials and services required to prepare to consolidate terminal control facilities into AAS area control facilities until FAA determines the optimal alternative. This recommendation should not preclude FAA from modernizing facilities to perform en route functions. |
DOT agreed with this recommendation and stated that the AAS contract has flexibility to deliver systems to consolidated or nonconsolidated sites. However, DOT did not state whether it would prevent FAA from extending or awarding other contracts to prepare facilities for consolidation until FAA determines whether to consolidate.
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IT acquisitionsAir traffic control systemsAirportsComputer modelingCost controlCost effectiveness analysisInformation systemsProduct evaluationRegulatory agenciesTransportation safety