NextGen funding in FAA's FY 2017 budget request

News

March 14, 2016

WASHINGTON. The Fiscal Year (FY)2017 budget request for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is $15.9 billion, slightly less than the FY2016 enacted total of $16.3 billion. The entire FY 2017 Next Generation Air Traffic Management System (NextGen) effort totals $1.0 billion, a 2 percent increase over the FY2016 enacted total.

The NextGen funding is distributed among Facilities & Equipment (F&E) programs ($877.4 million), Research & Development (R&D) programs ($62.6 million) and Operations activities ($60.1 million), according to the FAA.

Total F&E funding requested is $2.838 billion, down slightly from the $2.55 billion FY2016 enacted total. Total R&D funding is up $1.5 million to $167.5 million for FY2017.

According to the FAA budget request, "now that the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) system is fully operational at the 20 FAA en-route centers across the continental United States," it will accommodate en-route processing necessary for NextGen technologies such as Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) services, System Wide Information Management (SWIM), and data communications.

The FY 2017 request also enhances funding for advancing the Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM), Time Based Flow Management Program, data communications, and NextGen Weather Processor (NWP), according to the FAA. TFDM will enhance airport surface sequencing and scheduling, and also automate manual flight processes to allow enhanced data sharing. Time Based Flow Management will maximize the use of airports by making sure the right aircraft get to the right runway, in the right order and time. Data communications will promote safety by reducing the frequency of talkovers and readback errors that can occur during analog voice communications with pilots. NWP will functionally replace existing FAA weather processor systems and enable new capabilities that better meet real time needs.

In addition, the FY 2017 budget provides increased funding for the integration of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) platforms into the National Airspace System (NAS) with the NAS Infrastructure Portfolio increased to include new air traffic management requirements that will enhance communication standards, UAS collision avoidance systems, and the integration of weather data into automated trajectory systems.

To read the FAA budget request in full, visit https://cms.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/FAA-FY-2017-CJ.pdf.