DOT Watchdog To Investigate FAA NextGen Oversight

The Transportation Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) is launching an investigation into the FAA’s management of NextGen research and development projects. The OIG investigation will explore the agency’s selection, justification and measurement of outcomes of NextGen projects and the agency’s oversight of the execution of the projects that receive developmental funding.

“Since 2008, Congress has provided more than $1.5 billion in developmental projects intended to explore new concepts and evaluate alternatives to reduce uncertainty and risks associated with NextGen programs,” the OIG said.  “However, unlike major acquisition programs, these projects do not have formally approved cost and schedule milestones and do not receive the program oversight given to other procurement programs.”

The audit, to launch this month, is the latest of the nearly two dozen OIG investigations into the FAA’s oversight of or the progress of the next-generation ATC system. It also comes as Washington debates the future of the management of ATC. Key lawmakers and airline groups have been pushing for an independent organization to do a better job of implementing ATC systems. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is expected to roll out a proposal later this month as part of a larger FAA reauthorization bill.