National Airspace System: FAA Reauthorization Issues are Critical to System Transformation and Operations

Discusses six issues that are important in reauthorizing FAA programs: (1) Ensuring the safe and efficient transformation to the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen); (2) Strengthening oversight of aviation safety: Incomplete and inaccurate safety data jeopardize FAA's implementation of a new safety management approach; (3) Reducing congestion and providing access to the national airspace system; (4) Addressing aviation's impact on the environment, including noise, emissions, and other pollutants; (5) Ensuring a sufficient, trained workforce; and (6) Ensuring timely reauthorization of FAA programs. Charts and tables.

The 2013 Plan serves as a roadmap of the FAA’s ongoing transition to NextGen and provides an overview of the benefits aircraft operators and passengers are receiving from recent NextGen improvements. NextGen is the shift to smarter, satellite-based and digital technologies and new procedures to make air travel more convenient, predictable and environmentally friendly. Highlights of the Plan include the latest on metroplex initiatives, Performance Based Navigation growth, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast deployments, surface collaboration and plans for future benefits. The plan devotes an entire chapter to general aviation and recognizes the growing role of this important stakeholder.

The FAA estimates that the number of flights in the U.S. will increase 20% by 2024. It also has identified numerous airports that will need to expand to handle more flights. However, increasing airport capacity and operations poses potentially significant impacts on the environment and quality of life for surrounding communities. This report addresses: (1) airports' actions to reduce their environmental impacts; (2) the extent airports believe environmental issues delay development or operational changes; and (3) the strategies airports can adopt to address environmental issues. The report surveyed the 150 busiest airports as measured by the number of operations. Illus. This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find report.