Actions Needed to Meet Expectations for the Next Generation Air Transportation System in the Mid-Term
On October 28, 2009, the Inspector General testified before the House Subcommittee on Aviation regarding FAA actions required to address the recommendations of a joint Government/Industry task force report for achieving mid-term goals for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). The Inspector General noted that NextGen is a high risk effort and a top management challenge for the Department and FAA. A number of operational and management decisions must be addressed to successfully transition to NextGen and address the task force’s recommendations. These include maximizing the benefits of performance based navigation initiatives and managing NextGen efforts as integrated portfolios of investments. The Inspector General noted that the findings of the task force are consistent with our work but also identified additional areas for FAA's attention. To move beyond endorsing the task force’s recommendations, the Inspector General stated that FAA must set realistic expectations for NextGen. Specifically, FAA must: (1) develop plans to initiate action and establish a 5-year funding profile for the NextGen mid-term, (2) establish metrics for assessing and measuring progress, and (3) develop and implement a strategy for linking near- and mid-term efforts with the Agency's long-term plans for transforming the National Airspace System.
Status of Operating Administrations' Processes to Conduct Limited Quality Reviews of Recovery Act Recipient Data
On October 6, 2009, we issued our report on the DOT Operating Administrations’ plans for ensuring Recovery Act fund recipients submit accurate, complete, and timely data on the use of these funds, as required by Section 1512 of the Recovery Act. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance states that starting October 22, 2009, Federal agencies are to perform a limited data quality review of recipient information and notify the recipients of two key data problems–material omissions and significant reporting errors. We found that the Department’s Operating Administrations overseeing the implementation of the Recovery Act–Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and Maritime Administration–have taken steps to ensure that Recovery Act recipients comply with Section 1512 reporting requirements. These steps range from conducting outreach to recipients regarding the specific reporting requirements to drafting processes for performing limited data quality reviews. Each Operating Administration aims to have a process in place before conducting the reviews, and as of September 25, 2009, two of five Operating Administrations–FAA and FTA–have drafted processes. However, it is too early to determine whether these processes will adequately identify omissions and significant reporting errors. As we continue to conduct our Recovery Act work, we will monitor the Operating Administrations’ progress, and may conduct additional work of the adequacy of Operating Administrations’ and recipients’ internal control procedures for ensuring data quality.
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