FAA's Communications Equipment Replacement Plans.
Abstract
A review of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) voice communications equipment replacement plans were completed. FAA had planned a two-phased effort to replace the existing leased telephone switching and FAA-owned radio control equipment. Some equipment would be replaced during the early 1980s with interim off-the-shelf leased or purchased equipment while the follow-on Voice Switching and Control System VSCS was being developed. We felt VSCS was not required because (1) hard-wired and patch panel controlled equipment, rather than computer controlled equipment, would satisfy the circuit reconfiguration requirement, (2) much of the in-use equipment would last for many years, and (3) the replacement of older equipment with off-the-shelf equipment, rather than VSCS, would be more cost effective. Accordingly, we recommended that you direct FAA to (1) discontinue research and development on VSCS and cancel its planned purchase; (2) use the planned interim buy off-the-shelf equipment to obtain needed equipment to meet new requirements and replace equipment no longer cost or operationally effective; and (3) revise the draft specifications for the interim equipment to allow more competition and the selection of the lowest cost equipment (hard-wired, patch panel controlled, or computer controlled equipment).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 29, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA107186
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office