The US Federal Aviation Administration is set to make two key airspace-modernisation decisions in the next few months, but faces challenges in rolling out its plan to increase air traffic capacity 30% by 2010.
Selection of the datalink for automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast is due by next month, while a decision on whether to continue development of the wide-area augmentation system (WAAS) to provide Category I precision approach capability is due this quarter.
Both decisions are elements of the FAA's Operational Evolution Plan (OEP) to increase airspace capacity. But after 11 September, the agency is warning the schedule is at risk as airlines baulk at the cost of required avionics and airports revisit the completion dates for expansion projects.
Since 11 September, "many of the long-term research programmes lack the strong business case required [for voluntary equipage]", says OEP director Charles Keegan.
The Department of Transportation's inspector general (IG), Kenneth Mead, believes the OEP faces near-term challenges because of cost and schedule problems with major acquisitions.
Mead says the $2.9 billion estimate for WAAS is again under review. The GPS augmentation system is set to become operational in 2003, but will provide less precision approach capability than promised. "The FAA must decide whether to stop WAAS development in 2003 or continue to refine technology [to provide Cat I approach capability]," the IG says.
Cost and schedule of the standard terminal automation replacement system controller workstation upgrade remains at risk, Mead says, in part because the FAAhas postponed a production decision on the ASR-11 digital airport surveillance radar to November while fixes for technical problems are tested.
Source: Flight International
