The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would be required to better measure performance goals for new technology being integrated into the nation’s air traffic control system under bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on Monday.
The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), which Congress mandated in 2003, will transition from a radar-based air traffic control system to a satellite-based system by 2025.
In response to delays and cost overruns in NextGen deployment, Daines and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) led a bipartisan bill to establish performance goals and to bring accountability and transparency to the implementation process.
“By increasing transparency, setting measurable goals and holding the FAA accountable to meeting their performance goals, we can make air transportation safer and more efficient for pilots and passengers,” Daines said. “It’s critical we prioritize passage of this bill to improve the safety of air travel for all Americans.”
In April, Daines included an amendment in an FAA reauthorization bill to hold federal employees overseeing NextGen implementation responsible for poor performance and delays.
“Swift and successful implementation of the NextGen program promises to increase safety, diminish congestion and ensure our air traffic control system keeps pace with new innovations,” Booker said. “Passage of this bill will ensure a more open process and give the ongoing task of modernizing our aviation network the urgent attention it needs to succeed.”
The bill would require the FAA to add more information to existing reports on NextGen implementation progress, and it would codify that the chief NextGen officers’ bonuses must take into account performance related to annual goals.