GAO urges FAA to adopt cost estimate and master schedule for ATC overhaul

The Government Accountability Office issued two open recommendations directing the Federal Aviation Administration to prioritize a reliable lifecycle cost estimate and a detailed integrated master schedule for the Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS). The recommendations bind the FAA and were released after GAO's review of the agency's planning for the accelerated modernization effort.

GAO found that, although FAA has made progress on Phase 1 - replacing 2,560 of 5,170 copper wires with high-speed fiber optic cables as of May 2026 - it lacks a comprehensive cost estimate and an integrated schedule. In June 2026, FAA officials could provide only high-level program estimates for Phase 1 and could not supply supporting analysis. The estimate excludes government costs, most operations costs for Phase 1, and all Phase 2 costs. FAA also maintains 11,389 individual project schedules that are not coordinated, preventing optimization of installations to reduce controller disruptions.

Congress appropriated $12.5 billion in July 2025 to fund BNATCS, with most of the funds earmarked for Phase 1, which FAA aims to complete by December 2028. Phase 2, which will develop new automation systems, is projected to require approximately $10.2 billion, but FAA has not set a start or completion date for that phase.

The Transportation Secretary partially concurred with both GAO recommendations, but the agency has not yet provided a timeline for delivering the requested cost estimate or master schedule. GAO warned that without these planning tools, FAA risks repeating historic cost overruns, schedule delays, and continued reliance on outdated ATC systems that contribute to flight delays and safety incidents.

If FAA implements GAO's recommendations, the agency would align its BNATCS planning with GAO's cost-estimating and scheduling best practices, potentially mitigating the heightened risk of disruptions to the nation's air traffic control infrastructure.