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Aviation Acquisition: Improved Process Needs To Be Followed

RCED-87-8 Published: Mar 26, 1987. Publicly Released: Mar 26, 1987.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) National Airspace System (NAS) Plan to upgrade and modernize facilities and equipment to more effectively meet the projected increase in air traffic.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Aviation Administration The Administrator, FAA, should ensure that the major system projects not yet in the production phase are subject to operational testing as recommended by OMB Circular A-109, and the resulting data is made available for FAA production decisions.
Closed – Implemented
DOT expressed its commitment to operational testing and evaluation (OT&E) and believes that the new OT&E policies and procedures will better ensure that major systems are adequately tested prior to full production. DOT also stated that the Transportation Systems Acquisition Review Council will ensure that OMB Circular A-109 and this GAO recommendation are followed in the future.
Federal Aviation Administration The Administrator, FAA, should ensure that new projects are included in the improved acquisition process and receive the level of management review prescribed by OMB Circular A-109, and that these projects are, in fact, sufficiently developed and documented to justify entering the acquisition process at the phase proposed.
Closed – Implemented
DOT stated that the Transportation Systems Acquisition Review Council will ensure that acquisitions are fully justified, developed, and documented at the key decision points they enter the OMB Circular A-109 process.

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Transportation
Air traffic control systemsAircraft componentsAircraft maintenanceAirportsFacility maintenanceProcurement regulationsSystems designData automationCost estimatesAviation