FAA modernization phase one expected to cost $16 billion

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee that the first phase of the agency’s air traffic control modernization program is expected to cost $16 billion. This figure exceeds the $12.5 billion previously provided by Congress, which included $9 billion for system modernization and $3.5 billion for facility construction.

The FAA is currently covering the funding gap by utilizing its existing facilities and equipment budget. Looking forward, Bedford is requesting at least $10 billion from Congress to fund the second phase of the program, which will focus on new automation systems for aircraft tracking and traffic flow management.

The testimony follows a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) expressing concerns regarding the program's oversight. The GAO noted that the FAA has not yet developed a comprehensive lifecycle cost estimate or an integrated master schedule for the overhaul. The first phase involves 13 programs and more than 11,000 individual project schedules, with a target completion date of December 2028.