NIW Today | 48
MODERNIZATION & INFRASTRUCTURE
ISSUE
NATCA and the FAA have achieved several collaborative successes on NextGen projects over the
last eight years such as ERAM, DataComm, and Metroplex. Nevertheless, the FAA is still lagging
behind in its effort to modernize its technology and upgrade its aging physical infrastructure.
Stop-and-go funding, and most specifically the recent 35-day government shutdown, has already
delayed and threatens to derail these programs. Additionally, any further degradation of controller
staffing numbers and/or attacks on official time would cripple the FAA's ability to deliver NextGen
technologies on time and under budget.
HOW THIS ISSUE AFFECTS NATCA MEMBERS
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Despite collaborative success between NATCA and the FAA on several NextGen
projects, the FAA is still lagging behind in efforts to modernize outdated
technology and replace or repair its rapidly aging infrastructure.
The recent 35-day government shutdown made these problems worse by halting
all FAA modernization programs, causing significant delays and wasting critical
resources and federal taxpayer dollars. The FAA must continue to work together
collaboratively with NATCA to get these programs back on track.
A stable, predictable funding stream is necessary to continue to modernize the
system and improve our physical infrastructure.
QUICK REFERENCE
