WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL), Senior Democrat on the Aviation Subcommittee, cautioned against reducing the priority of Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) funding at an Aviation Subcommittee hearing October 5, 2011. Costello emphasized that less funding now would result in delayed implementation of critical NextGen technologies – such as En Route Automation Modernization – and result in increased costs in the future for government and industry.
“However, because many NextGen programs are dependent on one or more systems, delays in one program mean delays in others…. My concern is: What happens when we add severe budget constraints on top of logistical program delays?
“If we are committed to our shared goal of spending taxpayer dollars wisely and efficiently, I am concerned that significantly cutting funding levels for NextGen will move implementation dates back even further and will result in increased costs and reduced benefits for aviation users.”
The hearing, titled Comprehensive Review of FAA’s NextGen Program: Costs, Benefits, Progress and Management, featured testimony from the Federal Aviation Administration, Government Accountability Office, Department of Transportation Inspector General, Air Transport Association, National Business Aviation Association, Air Line Pilots Association, and Deloitte LLP. Witnesses agreed that NextGen implementation is critical to the future of aviation, but there remain concerns about the ability of the FAA to meet program goals in a timely manner.
Costello noted that funding is not the only concern, but it must not add to the complexity of managing NextGen. He further stressed that members of Congress must fully understand the implications for NextGen implementation before they vote on future budgets.
“I want to be clear that simply providing more funding is not the entire solution to successful NextGen implementation. In fact, there are many factors that must come together in order for NextGen to be successful now and in the future. But when we are trying to implement the largest and most important aviation modernization project of our time in a safe and cost-effective manner, at what point is “doing more with less” just adding to the problem and making it even more difficult for it to succeed on time and on budget?”
