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Washington, DC – The following is the opening statement of U.S. Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI), Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member, from today’s hearing to review the government-industry RTCA Mid-Term Implementation Task Force Report on the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).
“When the RTCA NextGen Mid-Term Implementation Task Force was chartered in January, Task Force members were asked to achieve industry consensus on what steps must be taken over the next several years to deliver NextGen benefits to users. The Task Force, comprised of over 300 members, released its report and recommendations in early September.
“The Task Force’s recommendations do not focus on which research and development activities will lay the groundwork for an end-state NextGen architecture. Rather, the report’s recommendations focus on activities that can maximize the potential benefits on existing aircraft avionics and airport technologies in the near-term.
“While some have reacted by saying, ‘Well that’s not really NextGen,’ the report does mark an important milestone in the long history of air traffic control modernization. Without user buy-in, the FAA’s NextGen efforts will fail. However, the direct involvement of stakeholders’ financial officers in making these recommendations to FAA indicates a willingness on the part of industry to make the financial commitments needed to carry out the recommendations.
“Another valuable outcome of the Task Force is the clear call for collaboration across FAA lines of business. This will be critical to timely delivery of near and long-term NextGen capabilities. For example, the delivery of key platforms such as ERAM, ADS-B, and SWIM are the necessary infrastructure for NextGen. But without procedures, standards, and regulations, users will not be able to benefit from the technological improvements.
“Critical to maximizing benefits derived from technologies, both old and new, is the development of operational procedures overseen by the FAA’s Office of Aviation Safety. I am pleased that Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety, Ms. Gilligan, is participating today and I am interested in hearing how the agency plans to streamline the development and implementation of operational and environmental approval processes.
“The Task Force report has been characterized as a confidence-building exercise between users and the FAA. Specifically, the Task Force stated that if the FAA can maximize benefits of past avionics investments, users will be more confident in making future avionics investments.
I am interested in hearing how the FAA will take advantage of this opportunity to work with the industry in delivering improvements.
“While ADS-B is regarded as the backbone of NextGen, it was not the focus of the Task Force recommendations. Unfortunately, there still is no clarity from FAA on the business case for ADS-B equipage. The Task Force has been praised for its work in developing industry consensus on what is specifically needed in the near-term to deliver NextGen. I am interested in hearing from our witnesses what the best process is for answering the challenging questions surrounding the shape and size of ADS-B.
“Finally, while it is important to set near-term goals, FAA must also be held accountable for delivering the long-term vision in a timely fashion. I am interested in hearing how the FAA will allocate its resources to strike the necessary balance between answering the users’ demand for operational improvements in the near-term while maintaining efforts on the groundwork necessary to achieve the NextGen vision. The last thing we want to do is meet again on this topic five years from now having invested billions of dollars and find ourselves nowhere nearer to a modernized Air Traffic Control system. I am sure that the user community shares my dread for a potential NextGen Groundhog Day.”
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