NextGen ATC Privatization Funding

Perhaps we don't need no stinkin' user fees:


GAO REAFFIRMS CURRENT TAXES CAN FUND FAA'S NEXTGEN

In a letter (http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07918r.pdf) sent
Tuesday to follow up on questions arising from a March 29 House
Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee hearing on NextGen, Government
Accountability Office Director of Physical Infrastructure Issues
Dr. Gerald Dillingham reiterated that "the current FAA funding
structure can provide sufficient funding for NextGen--with some
caveats." He said that the FAA itself has estimated that "if the
current taxes remain in effect at their current rates, revenues
will continue to increase." According to projections prepared by
the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), revenues obtained from the
existing FAA funding structure will increase substantially.
"Assuming the General Fund continues to provide about 19 percent
of FAA's budget, CBO estimates that through 2016 the Trust Fund
can support about $19 billion in additional spending over the
baseline FAA spending levels CBO has calculated for FAA provided
that most of the spending occurs after fiscal year 2010,"
Dillingham noted.
http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#195310


There's a web site devoted to NextGen he

http://www.jpdo.aero/
NextGen looks to small aircraft to relieve pressure for growth on
the central hub-and-spoke system.

Optimism about NextGen’s progress was shared by Monte Belger,
Lockheed Martin Vice President for Transportation Systems
Solutions. Belger pointed to current changes, including
implementation of satellite technology, Required Navigation
Performance (RNP), and Automatic Dependent Surveillance –
Broadcast (ADS-B), the latter currently in the trial phase.
Lockheed and Boeing’s strategic relationship in support of NextGen
highlighted the strength of the program and industry’s prominent
role, said Belger. Addressing uncertainty about funding, Belger
stressed the importance of the program, and suggested that
“business leaders need to support transformation no matter how the
system is funded.”


Representatives from Boeing and Lockheed Martin address questions
from the audience
Boeing was represented by Neil Planzer, ATM Programs Vice
President for Strategy who stressed the capabilities of NextGen,
focusing on information sharing. ADS-B, System Wide Information
Management (SWIM), and Network Enabled Operations (NEO) allow for
unprecedented communication between aircraft and ground systems.



NextGen Video
http://www.jpdo.aero/NextGenVid.html