	Overview1

The pending debate over reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is likely to be a high priority in the 110 th Congress. Funding authorizations for aviation programs set forth in Vision 100—the Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act ( P.L. 108-176 , hereafter referred to as Vision 100), as well as authorization of the existing aviation tax structure that provides revenue for the aviation trust fund, are set to expire at the end of FY2007. Congress may consider a variety of financing options to maintain the ability of the aviation trust fund to provide a sufficient revenue stream for ongoing operational costs and planned infrastructure improvements, in the near-term and to support the long-term NGATS development efforts. Some have proposed that the FAA implement a systematic process, perhaps using something akin to the military's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, to address future consolidation plans for facilities and functions. In the long term, under NGATS, consolidation of air traffic services and air traffic facilities may be possible. Also, with regard to issues of passenger comfort, safety, and convenience in the airliner cabin, the use of cell phones and portable electronic devices (PEDs) has been an issue of growing interest. Growing concerns over global warming and environmental impacts may also prompt debate over options for reducing aircraft emissions. The strategy for addressing the impending wave of controller retirements is intended to be more proactive. As previously discussed, Congress may also consider whether a BRAC-like process may provide a mechanism for evaluating air traffic control facility consolidation options. Given the intense interest in UAV technologies and the safety concerns raised by other airspace users, the FAA's approach to regulating the safety of UAVs could be a topic of particular interest as Congress engages in debate over FAA reauthorization. A variety of issues may arise during the reauthorization debate, including
Whether sufficient progress on the NGATS effort has been made to date, and whether it is anticipated that NGATS plans can stay on schedule; Whether metrics to sufficiently define and monitor progress in the development of NGATS are available and can be adequately defined and measured; Whether timelines and milestones to reach NGATS objectives by 2025 need to be more explicitly defined through legislation; Whether the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO), the organization charged with overseeing and integrating the NGATS project, has sufficient access and input into the budgeting and acquisition processes at the various agencies involved, including the FAA, NASA, and others; Whether the scope of the NGATS project is too broadly defined by considering security and environmental issues and defining air travel from airport curbside to airport curbside, and therefore should be narrowed to focus more intensively on the safe and efficient flow of aircraft (rather than passengers in the system); and Whether the JPDO has sufficient staffing to monitor the NGATS system integration, or whether the use of a systems integration contractor to oversee and integrate the NGATS project is needed;
To further examine these issues, the role of the JPDO, as set forth in Vision 100, and the JPDOs approach to defining and carrying out this role is considered in additional detail. Issues of particular interest in the current context include options for preventing runway overrun accidents, preventing runway incursions and collisions, improving maintenance oversight, mitigating the risk of fuel tank explosions on commercial airliners, monitoring aging aircraft and aircraft systems, and addressing safety concerns in the all-cargo industry. Other air tour operators may operate under general flight rules with minimal FAA oversight. These techniques could become part of an overall public health policy to control the spread of an infectious disease such as the avian flu. Further assessment of alternative fuels both for airport ground vehicles and for aircraft may arise as an issue during debate in Congress over FAA reauthorization. Coal-derived fuels can also be produced using processes similar to GTL. Aircraft Noise Reduction Technologies and Technology Policy

Policymakers may also face difficult decisions in setting realistic goals for future reductions in aircraft noise levels.
Reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other aviation programs is likely to be a high priority in the 110th Congress. Funding authorizations for aviation programs, as well as authorization of existing aviation tax structure that provides revenue for the aviation trust fund, are set to expire at the end of FY2007. Congress may consider a variety of financing options to maintain the ability of the aviation trust fund to provide a sufficient revenue stream for ongoing operational costs and planned infrastructure improvements. One particularly controversial alternative under consideration is a user fee system, which is supported by the airlines but strongly opposed by many other system users.
Faced with growing operational costs and fiscal needs to support system expansion, airport capital improvements, and modernization efforts, options to control costs within the FAA and the Air Traffic Organization (ATO) may be a particular focus of reauthorization. Cost control options generally revolve around two overarching strategies: consolidation of facilities and functions, and competitive sourcing. Some have recommended that a formal process, similar to the military's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, be implemented to assess how the FAA could best consolidate its functions to control costs and address future system needs. Besides controlling costs, options to maintain and balance air traffic controller staffing levels are likely to be of particular interest, as the FAA is facing a large wave of controller retirements over the next five years. Options for improving and streamlining training, increasing productivity, better balancing staffing needs, and perhaps consolidating air traffic facilities over the long-term may be considered during reauthorization.
Congress may examine a variety of aviation safety issues during debate over FAA reauthorization. Options for preventing runway overruns and for reducing the risk of runway collisions may be of particular interest. The adequacy of FAA safety oversight has been a continuing concern, and recent accidents may draw particular attention to oversight of contract repair facilities, smaller passenger service operators, as well as air charter and air tour operators. Other safety issues that may arise include longstanding concerns, such as mitigating the risks of fuel tank explosions, addressing concerns over aging aircraft, and addressing the unique safety issues affecting all-cargo operations. Issues regarding airliner cabin health and safety may also be considered. Options to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases among aircraft occupants and the safety-of-flight implications of cell phones and portable electronic devices may also be examined.
Growing interest in alternatives to petroleum fuel may generate some debate over alternative fuel technologies for aircraft and airport ground vehicles, and growing international pressures to regulate aircraft emissions may prompt debate on aviation's environmental impacts. Longstanding aircraft noise policies may also be examined to assess whether quiet aircraft technologies and policy changes could further mitigate the community impacts of aircraft noise. This report will be updated.