{
  "id": "RL32707",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL32707",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 311567,
      "date": "2006-01-19",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T19:19:58.510029",
      "title": "Avoiding Gridlock in the Skies: Issues and Options for Addressing Growth in Air Traffic",
      "summary": "A major challenge facing aviation policymakers is developing a strategy for increasing the\ncapacity\nof the national airspace system to keep pace with projected growth in demand for air travel. While\nTransportation Secretary Norman Mineta\u2019s vision for the next generation air traffic system\naspires\nto triple system capacity by 2025, FAA projections suggest that capacity enhancements will struggle\nto keep pace with growth in demand at major airports, in busy airspace around major metropolitan\nareas, and along certain busy high altitude corridors. Factors, including the continuing population\nshift into major metropolitan areas, the increased reliance on smaller jets in both airline and general\naviation operations, and increased point-to-point service, are expected to spur growth in those\naviation operations that impact high altitude airspace and contribute to increased congestion at\ncapacity constrained airports. \n \n The current aviation system is constrained by limited available capacity at critical major\nmetropolitan airports and is increasingly unable to meet projected future demand. The system also\nis constrained by outdated technology and procedures that limit the utilization of available airspace. \nIn addition to meeting these challenges, the FAA also faces internal challenges to meet future\ncontroller staffing needs given that almost half of its existing controller workforce is expected to\nretire over the next decade. The FAA also faces significant challenges in reforming its\norganizational culture which historically has been blamed for consistent cost overruns, schedule\nslips, and performance shortfalls in major air traffic modernization projects.\n \n Two new organizations within the FAA -- the Air Traffic Organization (ATO) and the Joint\nPlanning and Development Office (JPDO) -- are viewed as key elements of organizational reform\nthat may be closely scrutinized by Congress and administration policymakers to ensure that they\neffectively manage the implementation of near term and long range capacity enhancement efforts. \nThe key challenges for these organizations is to develop and execute capacity expansion plans that\nappropriately invest in airport infrastructure, air traffic system technology, and operational\nprocedures to keep pace with expected growth in demand for air travel while maintaining or\nimproving upon current levels of safety and efficiency. Possible strategies for meeting these\nobjectives include implementing  free flight  concepts that will allow more autonomy and\ndirect\nrouting of aircraft to better optimize airspace utilization; safely reducing aircraft separation standards\nto increase capacity in crowded airspace; effectively implementing automation and decision aiding\ntechnologies to improve airspace utilization and traffic flow; and expanding and reconfiguring\nexisting airport infrastructure. In addition, demand management strategies, such as curtailing peak\nhour flights or implementing slots or quotas may be examined as means to align demand with\navailable capacity at congested airports. The FAA\u2019s investment strategy for meeting these\ncapacity\nneeds is also likely to be of considerable interest in future years as significant funding challenges\nmay arise because of possible aviation trust fund shortages and a history of significant cost overruns\non major airspace modernization projects. [This report will not be updated.]",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
        {
          "format": "PDF",
          "encoding": null,
          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL32707",
          "sha1": "67ff2cb9a146a01dcd12277b45a442de85e1f673",
          "filename": "files/20060119_RL32707_67ff2cb9a146a01dcd12277b45a442de85e1f673.pdf",
          "images": null
        },
        {
          "format": "HTML",
          "filename": "files/20060119_RL32707_67ff2cb9a146a01dcd12277b45a442de85e1f673.html"
        }
      ],
      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Economic Policy"
  ]
}