US Government Accountability Office (GAO)
12 December 2024
The Federal Aviation Administration relies on information systems to help air traffic controllers keep the airspace safe and efficient. However, these systems are aging and experiencing issues. Last year, FAA determined that 51 of its 138 systems are unsustainable.
Our testimony highlights that 17 of these unsustainable systems are especially concerning. However, FAA doesn't plan to complete modernization projects for some of these systems for at least 10 years. FAA also doesn't have plans to modernize other systems in need—3 of which are at least 30 years old.
We recommended that FAA manage risks while it addresses unsustainable systems.
What GAO Found
After a shutdown of the national airspace in 2023 due to an aging air traffic control (ATC) system outage, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted an operational risk assessment to evaluate the sustainability of all ATC systems. The assessment determined that of FAA's 138 systems, 51 (37 percent) were unsustainable and 54 (39 percent) were potentially unsustainable. Of the 105 unsustainable and potentially unsustainable systems, 58 (29 unsustainable and 29 potentially unsustainable systems) have critical operational impacts on the safety and efficiency of the national airspace.
Read on: Air Traffic Control: Urgent FAA Actions Are Needed to Modernize Aging Systems | U.S. GAO
