FAA Tells Congress NextGen on Track

Stephen Pope

Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 07:47 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The FAA confirmed that the 2020 ADS-B equipage mandate will not change, stating that the agency has completed its nationwide ground station network and that aircraft owners are now responsible for equipping their aircraft.
Significant progress has been made on other NextGen elements, including the nearing completion of ERAM implementation for high-altitude air traffic centers by next spring.
NextGen initiatives like ADS-B are already providing benefits in tracking accuracy and in-cockpit information, with the FAA stressing that continued industry cooperation is essential for future success.

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Michael Whitaker, the FAA’s Deputy Administrator in charge of NextGen implementation, told a Senate committee yesterday that the agency has made “significant progress” in a number of key technology areas, stressing that the 2020 ADS-B equipment mandate is not in jeopardy of slipping.

Whitaker told members of the Senate Commerce Committee that the construction of a nationwide network of ADS-B ground stations is now finished, “fulfilling our part of the bargain.” Now, he said, it is up to aircraft owners and the airlines to do their part by equipping with ADS-B Out avionics.