FAA criticised for resisting change and hindering air traffic control modernisation

Airline Industry Information, April 14, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The US Federal Aviation Administration stops modernisation, according to a General Accountability Office report.

According to the report progress has been hindered by a resistance to change at all levels of the FAA, with respect to modernising the air traffic control system in the US. According to Reuters, the report was especially critical towards the management of the FAA and also said that there is a shortage of technical experts, making the organisation dependent on contractors. It was also pointed out that the interests of contractors may not be the same as those of the regulators.

The review was reportedly carried out last autumn by former officials of the FAA, economists, academics and industry experts.

The FAA has said that the criticism was not fair, as there have been efforts to modernise the air traffic in key areas, and the organisation has been meeting targets and deadlines.

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