NATCA Bookshelf

ISSUE In terms of ATC technology, the FAA is lagging behind in its modernization efforts of its outdated technology and its rapidly aging physical infrastructure. The FAA has frequently been criticized for its management of NextGen, but many have not seen the full picture. NATCA takes great pride in our role as a partner in developing and implementing important modernization projects in recent years. The FAA, NATCA, and other aviation stakeholders have enjoyed a positive, productive, and collaborative relationship for nearly a decade. Since 2009, we have focused on working together to modernize the system as we maintain the safety and efficiency of the world's safest, busiest, and most complex airspace. As a result, the FAA's development and deployment of NextGen programs have improved over time, but much work remains to be done. In order for NextGen to be successfully completed in a timely fashion and at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers, the FAA needs a stable, predictable funding stream. Without a stable and predictable funding stream, NextGen modernization programs will continue to be threatened by delays and funding shortages that will jeopardize their success. MESSAGE A stable and predictable funding stream is essential to meeting the modernization and physical infrastructure needs of the FAA. Collaboration is also necessary, but the FAA's controller staffing crisis looms as a threat to moderinzation and collaboration. Congressional attacks on official time would severely cripple the FAA's ability to deliver NextGen technologies in a timely fashion and at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers. Thanks to collaboration between the FAA and NATCA, we have achieved several successes on NextGen projects including ERAM, DataComm, and Metroplex. BACKGROUND MODERNIZATION & NEXTGEN NextGen describes the primary, comprehensive modernization project that is shifting the FAA from its current ground-based radar system to smarter, satellite-based aircraft tracking system and digital technologies, along with new procedures that will enable the FAA to guide and track aircraft more precisely on more direct routes. NextGen is producing efficiencies that enhance safety, reduce delays, save fuel, and reduce aircraft exhaust emissions. NextGen is also vital to preserving the United States' position as the world's leader in aviation. This is important due to the significant contribution aviation makes to our economy. Although the FAA has been criticized for its management of NextGen, NATCA takes great pride in our role as a partner on the leading edge of these important modernization projects. In fact, the FAA and NATCA have developed a strong collaborative relationship and are experiencing meaningful progress within many of the key NextGen programs. In collaboration with NATCA and industry stakeholders, the FAA has delivered $2.7 billion in benefits to date, completing 103 commitments of NextGen and the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC) Prioritization Plan. Collaboration between the FAA and NATCA allows the Agency to deliver cost savings on NextGen projects that would not otherwise be possible. If NATCA representatives were not involved, many NextGen programs would need to go through extensive, costly, and time-consuming revisions following testing and/or implementation. Through collaboration, the FAA is on or ahead of schedule with some of its most critical modernization programs. Despite this progress, further staffing reductions — such as a hiring freeze or furloughs — would have a detrimental effect on system capacity and NextGen. In 2013, sequestration and the resulting April 2013 furloughs, as well as the October FULL BACKGROUND continued on next page 47

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