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Audit Reports

Date

Status of the Aviation Rulemaking Committee’s 77 Initiatives for Reducing Delays in the New York Area

Project ID
AV2010003
File Attachment

On October 21, 2009, we issued our report on FAA’s actions to implement 77 initiatives of the New York Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). We conducted this audit at the request of the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Aviation, who expressed the Subcommittee’s concern about the effectiveness of delay–reduction efforts at the New York airports. Our audit objective was to examine FAA’s progress in implementing the 77 ARC initiatives.

We found that, while FAA reported many of these initiatives as complete, most are not being used or are used infrequently due to limited tactical need, operational and technical problems, unfinished testing, and controller/airline issues. Other initiatives face challenges, such as special equipment and training requirements or litigation, or are part of nationwide FAA programs that will not be completed until 2012 or later. While FAA has begun addressing these issues, much work remains to be done. We recommended that FAA (1) assess completed and remaining initiatives to determine whether they are providing benefits or should be discontinued or re–categorized, (2) resolve technical, operational, and controller/airline issues affecting many of the initiatives reported as completed, and (3) fully operationalize the Integration Office’s NY Area Delay Reduction Plan and Schedule. FAA generally concurred with our recommendations.