The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation reviewed the Federal Aviation Administration's Next Generation Air Transportation System, an air traffic control modernization program known as NextGen.
The program aims to make air travel more convenient, dependable, safe and secure. It will transition the national air traffic system from a ground-based radar system to a satellite-based surveillance system, develop data communications capabilities between the aircraft and the ground and improve aviation weather forecasting and monitoring systems.
Committee members addressed concerns that the FAA has not yet taken several steps required by the FAA Modernization and Reform Act to improve NextGen accountability, as well as a recent Department of Transportation Inspector General report that shows concern over delays in the program's implementation.
Deputy Secretary of Transportation John D. Porcari, FAA Acting Administrator Michael P. Huerta, Department of Transportation Inspector General Calvin L. Scovel III and Government Accountability Office Physical Infrastructure Division Director Gerald Dillingham testified, along with witnesses from the aviation industry.
Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI) chaired the hearing.