Petri Holds Hearing to Examine FAA Consolidation Plan Necessary for NextGen & Cost Savings

Washington, DC – The Subcommittee on Aviation, chaired by U.S. Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI), held a hearing this morning to examine the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) need and efforts to consolidate air traffic control facilities to provide long-term cost savings and help U.S. aviation transition to the NextGen air traffic control system.

The following is the opening statement of Chairman Petri:

“Five years ago, the Aviation Subcommittee held a hearing on FAA facility conditions. At that hearing, the FAA witness testified that a key element of the FAA’s transformation to NextGen air traffic control modernization is consolidation of its facilities.

“The FAA witness also noted that without consolidation, the FAA is tied to maintaining outdated facilities with outdated technology based on outdated 1960’s radar boundaries. As we all know, NextGen touches every aspect of the Agency’s mission and currently costs roughly a billion dollars per year. It is also a job creator, and vitally important to allow the United States to compete in the global marketplace.

“At the 2007 hearing, the Department of Transportation Inspector General pointed out that a major factor in both capital and operating costs for NextGen is the degree to which the Agency eliminates or consolidates FAA facilities.

“Congress agrees with the need for FAA to address its aging, run-down, and obsolete facilities, while furthering NextGen and making smart investments. In fact, in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act signed by the President on February 14th, Congress included section 804, which requires the FAA to develop a National Facilities Realignment and Consolidation Report within 120 days of enactment.

“In accordance with section 804, the FAA must work with labor and industry to develop a plan to transition to NextGen and to reduce capital, operating, maintenance, and administrative costs of the FAA without adversely affecting safety. The report is to be submitted to Congress, and if Congress does not pass a joint resolution of disapproval, then the FAA must follow the recommendations included in the report.

“It has been pointed out to me that the FAA's facility consolidation and realignment effort has actually been in the works for decades now.

“Over the years, this effort has resulted in some successes, but overall very little progress has been achieved in terms of addressing the needs of NextGen, the FAA's aging facilities -- some of which are well past their useful life -- and the poor working conditions endured by many FAA employees. This hearing is intended to focus attention on this critically important program and effort.

“Everyone is in agreement that the FAA must plan for the future by consolidating, realigning and closing many of the over 400 terminal facilities for which it is responsible. This not only makes sense from a fiscal perspective, but also is an absolute necessity for NextGen.

“To this end, I look forward to hearing from the witnesses on the status of the FAA’s facility consolidation and realignment plans. Specifically, the Subcommittee is looking for a clear description of the FAA’s implementation timeline and cost estimates; how the FAA is working with labor groups and industry stakeholders; and, finally, the agreed upon metrics for determining progress.

“Today’s hearing is an opportunity for the FAA to refocus its efforts, seek the support of Congress, labor groups, and other stakeholders, and take full advantage of the opportunity provided by Section 804 in the FAA Reauthorization Law.”