Offers Testimony Before The Senate Commerce Committee On The System

The FAA's Deputy Administrator in charge of NextGen told the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday that the agency has made "significant progress" towards full implementation of the system.

In his prepared opening remarks released by the FAA, Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker (pictured) said that the installation of the ground infrastructure for ADS-B has been completed. "This represents a key milestone in transitioning from a ground-based radar system to satellite-based GPS technology. ADS-B enables us to determine an aircraft’s location and track with far greater accuracy than radar. This, in turn, allows more precise and efficient spacing of aircraft, which enables airlines to take advantage of fuel-saving NextGen procedures," he said.

"We are also close to completing another major foundational element of NextGen – the software and hardware upgrades to our nation’s high altitude air traffic centers," Whitaker said. "The ERAM program will be complete next Spring, allowing us to decommission the legacy system. Similar system upgrades in our approach centers – the TRACONs – are also on track and will be completed in our major TRACONs by 2016."

The agency is on track and nearing completion of the foundational phase of NextGen, the Deputy Administrator said, adding that airlines and general aviation pilots must do their part and equip by the deadline to use the system we have built. "Let me be very clear. The 2020 deadline is not going to change.  We are in a position to achieve this important milestone on time.  The cost of equipment has come down considerably. There is sufficient maintenance capacity to allow all equipage to occur – in fact, waiting to equip might cost more if aircraft owners crowd repair stations to get the work done on the eve of the deadline."

Whitaker added that some locations, such as Houston, are already seeing the benefits of the NextGen system. "In 30 months, working with industry, we were able to transform Houston’s airspace, thanks to close collaboration with labor, environmental streamlining and concurrent reviews.We flipped the switch on 61 new procedures that take advantage of the precision of GPS technology to untangle the congested airspace shared by multiple airports. These new procedures are estimated to save airlines 3 million gallons of fuel per year while reducing carbon emissions by 31,000 metric tons. That’s the equivalent of removing more than 6,000 cars from the streets of Houston," he said. "We plan to replicate or improve upon these benefits at more than a dozen other busy metropolitan areas across the country."

While the agency is on track with NextGen, Whitaker said continued cooperation between the agency and the industry is important. "By working together we have the ability to transform our nation’s airspace system for the benefit of generations to come."

FMI: www.faa.gov