Air Traffic Control: FAA Needs to Justify Further Investment in Its Oceanic Display System
IMTEC-92-80
Published: Sep 30, 1992. Publicly Released: Oct 28, 1992.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Oceanic Display and Planning System (ODAPS).
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Aviation Administration | Because of the uncertainties surrounding FAA cost and schedule estimates for ODAPS and the significant software problems still surfacing about the system, the Administrator, FAA, should certify to the Secretary of Transportation that a thorough and complete analysis of feasible alternatives to ODPAS has been performed. At a minimum, this analysis should include life-cycle cost data for each alternative that is credible and verifiable. Additionally, it should consider not only the FAA short-term oceanic processing, display, and communications requirements, but also its long-term requirements for satellite-based oceanic air traffic control and integration with the Advanced Automation System. |
Closed – Implemented
FAA is reviewing system architecture alternatives. FAA has analyzed alternatives to ODAPS and has decided to no longer use ODAPS as the foundation upon which to build more advanced oceanic air traffic control automation.
|
| Federal Aviation Administration | Should ODAPS emerge from this analysis as the more cost-effective alternative, the Administrator, FAA, should certify to the Secretary that all ODAPS independent verification and validation (IV&V) findings have been thoroughly and expeditiously assessed and fully resolved. |
Closed – Not Implemented
FAA has analyzed alternatives to ODAPS and has decided to no longer use ODAPS as the foundation upon which to build more advanced oceanic air traffic control automation.
|
| Federal Aviation Administration | Should ODAPS emerge from this analysis as the more cost-effective alternative, the Administrator, FAA, should certify to the Secretary that a capacity management program for ODAPS has been established. |
Closed – Not Implemented
FAA has analyzed alternatives to ODAPS and has decided to no longer use ODAPS as the foundation upon which to build more advanced oceanic air traffic control automation.
|
| Federal Aviation Administration | Should ODAPS emerge from this analysis as the more cost-effective alternative, the Administrator, FAA, should certify to the Secretary that the ODAPS cost and schedule are systematically estimated using contemporary estimating tools and techniques, and that these estimates are kept current to reflect changes to the program. |
Closed – Not Implemented
FAA has analyzed alternatives to ODAPS and has decided to no longer use ODAPS as the foundation upon which to build more advanced oceanic air traffic control automation.
|
| Federal Aviation Administration | Should ODAPS emerge from this analysis as the more cost-effective alternative, the Administrator, FAA, should certify to the Secretary that ODAPS is continually monitored relative to other feasible alternatives in light of any changes to the estimates. |
Closed – Not Implemented
FAA has analyzed alternatives to ODAPS and has decided to no longer use ODAPS as the foundation upon which to build more advanced oceanic air traffic control automation.
|
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Air traffic control systemsCapacity managementCommunication satellitesCost effectiveness analysisInformation systemsInternational travelLife cycle costsNavigation aidsRegulatory agenciesTraffic regulationAutomatic dependent surveillance-broadcast