The FAA has nearly completed its 20-year effort to install final versions of a new radar system at 11 large hub airports around the United States. Close on the heels of the agency’s work, the Department of Transportation’s Inspector General recently audited the program at the behest of the House Appropriations Committee to better understand how close the FAA is to meeting the original goals of the upgrades. The new radar, called STARS, for standard terminal automation replacement system, represents a critical element in reducing traffic delays and increasing capacity, a major component of the NextGen ATC upgrade.
DOT Reports on FAA’s Latest NextGen Steps
Key Takeaways:
- The DOT Inspector General (IG) audited the FAA's 20-year, NextGen-critical STARS radar system upgrade, revealing significant challenges in its implementation.
- The audit found that the FAA underestimated transition costs by $90 million and lacked sufficient documentation for validating or prioritizing new system requirements.
- A critical safety concern was identified regarding STARS power systems not complying with agency safety regulations, specifically the use of daisy-chained power strips, and the system has not yet made key NextGen sequencing tools operational.
- The FAA largely agreed with the IG's recommendations, which included finalizing timelines for remaining requirements, improving documentation processes, and redesigning the power supply configuration.
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