The White House has requested at 30 percent increase in the FAA’s budget for its NextGen air traffic control modernization initiative.
The budget provides $1.14 billion, to support a transformation from a national ground-based radar surveillance system to a more accurate satellite-based surveillance system, the development of more efficient routes through the airspace, and the improvement of aviation weather information, according to the White House request.
The Transportation Department said the funds would support an integrated plan to speed delivery of NextGen’s benefits to the traveling public.
It also said it would use an increase of $25 million to improve arrival and departure procedures, $153 million for data communications – an increase of $106 million over fiscal 2010 — and $176 million to implement satellite-based surveillance capabilities providing a more complete picture of airspace conditions.
FAA’s request also includes $9.8 billion for its operations account, an increase of $443 million over fiscal 2010 – of which $1.3 billion would go toward aviation safety — and $14 million is included in that amount to fund an additional 82 positions to develop flight standards and provide increased aircraft certification services.
