National Airspace System: FAA's Approach to Its New Communications System Appears Prudent, but Challenges Remain
Abstract
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) uses radios to provide air-ground voice and data communications for pilots and air traffic controllers to safely coordinate all flight operations-ground movements of aircraft at airports, take-offs and landings, and separation distances between aircraft as they cruise at high altitudes. However, the anticipated growth in air traffic, coupled with FAA's efforts to reduce air traffic delays and introduce new air traffic services, will create a demand for additional channels for voice communications that FAA's current system cannot provide. FAA is implementing a new communications system to respond to this challenge and also seeking to enhance its existing ability to transmit data to provide more information to pilots, reduce errors in voice communications, and better balance controllers' workload. Moreover, FAA expects that its new system should be less susceptible to interference from such sources as power lines and radio and television stations and also improve security against unauthorized users. FAA is developing products to use with its future integrated voice and data communications system. FAA refers to the initiative to acquire this system as Next Generation Air/Ground Communications (NEXCOM) and estimates that its long-term funding commitment for this initiative could reach $4 billion through fiscal year 2023.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA403576
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office