Representatives request more information on NextGen timeline

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A group of four U.S. representatives recently sent a letter to Eugene Louis Dodaro, U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) comptroller general, asking for a review of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) implementation of NextGen.

The letter also requests information on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected implementation.

NextGen is the ongoing air traffic control system modernization program.

The Congress members asked that the review covers two topics: where NextGen is regarding schedule and cost, and what actions, if any, have the FAA taken to address any setbacks to implementation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2012 and 2015, the GAO reported the NextGen program was experiencing delays and cost increases. The FAA had missed milestones for the implementation of some NextGen capabilities, according to a NextGen Advisory Committee report in November.

Delays and cost increases have been caused by unanticipated events such as funding decreases or work stoppages, underestimating the complexity of software development, unanticipated system requirements work, and insufficient stakeholder involvement throughout system development.

The letter was signed by Peter DeFazio (D-OR), House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure chairman; Sam Graves (R-MO), the committee’s ranking member; Rick Larsen (D-WA), Subcommittee on Aviation chairman; and Garret Graves (R-LA), the subcommittee’s ranking member.