Advanced Automation System

Implications of Problems and Recent Changes Gao ID: T-RCED-94-188 April 13, 1994

The Advanced Automation System, one component of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) $36 billion effort to modernize the nation's air traffic control system, is intended to replace computer hardware and software, including workstations used by controllers at tower control facilities. The automation should help FAA cope with predicted increases in air traffic and provide operational benefits to users, such as more fuel-efficient routes. FAA's development of the system has been plagued from the start by major schedule delays and cost increases. Although FAA and IBM, the prime contractor, have been trying to overcome these problems, the problems continue and major changes have been made to the system. This testimony highlights (1) the problems confronting the system, (2) their causes, and (3) the implications of the problems and changes affecting the system.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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