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Appeal to the |
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| Priority |
Included (Inc) or Not Included (NI) in OMB Request |
Increase Over Passback Requested ($ in K) |
Rationale |
1 |
Inc |
57,000 |
Streamlining to Offset NATCA. - OMB applies a streamlining reduction for tile NATCA agreement that is in part already considered in the request. In the formulation of the initial agency request, an FY 2000 increase of 250 air traffic controllers for $7.4 million was approved. The NATCA agreement allowed us to forego the increased staffing, providing a cost avoidance and streamlining savings. Additionally, the request includes an additional $8.6 million in reductions attributable to the agreement. Taking non-existent NATCA agreement savings will result in reductions in operational areas. |
| Inc | 7,254 | NAS Hand-Off, Air Traffic
Backfill (BFOT) Overtime - In fiscal year 2000, 28 major systems will be
undergoing operational implementation which will require the use of backfill
overtime for controllers to be trained. Controllers need to be removed from
their operational positions to receive training on the new systems.
Classroom training time requires that other controllers are brought in to
"backfill" the operational position and overtime is required to pay these
controllers. Without this training, the new systems cannot be accepted and
made operational. Specifically, in order for new systems such as Display
System Replacement, Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System,
Operational and Supportability Implementation System, and others to become
operational, it is a must to have additional staffing through the use of
BFOT, to cover the operations in both the new and the old control rooms
simultaneously. The training on the new systems ensures that we will provide
safe air traffic control services to the general public. The FAA has been
replacing aging equipment through the NAS Modernization process and without
the ability to train the controllers on the new equipment, the new equipment
will not become operational. |
|
| Inc | 4,700 | .Air Traffic Technical
Training - If FAA is to maintain its standard of technical training for
air traffic controllers, the Academy instructional support costs will
increase by $2,500K due to the increased number of students who require
advanced and refresher training, as well as to accommodate the backlog of
students from FY 1999. Training is also required for Display System
Replacement and Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System. A
centralized tracking database for proficiency training of all controllers,
TRAX, will require $900K for final development and is a necessary component
of an air traffic controllers' training plan to ensure training is
accomplished within specific timeframes. An increase of $1,300K is required
to further develop Computer-Based Instruction (CBI). Course development into
a CBI format is the most efficient training aid for an air traffic
controller in order to maintain proficiency to reduce operational errors.
There are currently 90 CBI courses that cover 150 hours of training in field
facilities. This funding requirement will also ensure that 1,240 CBI
instructor/student platforms are maintained and upgraded to accommodate new
technology. |
|
| Inc | 3,967 | AFSS Streamlining - It
is imperative that flight service staffing does not fall below 3,000
full-time permanent employees. Under the current architecture of 61
automated flight service stations (AFSS), approximately 16,000 flight
services are handled per specialist. Any further reductions in staffing
would cause reduction in hours of operation at AFSS's leading to derogation
of essential services, such as search and rescue, lost aircraft orientation,
and en route flight advisory service. Reducing the staffing of the AFSS's
would critically impact safety. AFSS's continue to be the primary source for
providing pre-flight aviation weather briefings and flight planning
information for the general aviation pilot, with the AFSS being the first
contact a pilot has with the FAA. |
|
| Inc | 2,500 | Controller Training
Contract - Increase in funds is necessary to continue on-site training
for 1,505 air traffic controllers hired in FY 1997 and 1998, and to begin
on-site training for approximately 250 air traffic controllers planned to be
hired each year during FY 1'999 and 2000 to backfill attrition. After
initial training at the FAA Academy, new hire report to an FAA facility for
approximately three (3) years of facility-specific training. Without the
budget increase, new controllers would not be able to perform any meaningful
function until the mandatory facility-specific training can be accomplished.
Field facilities do not have sufficient personnel resources to assume these
additional training duties ($1,200K). Also, an increase in funds is
necessary to provide training for the Northern California TRACON, Potomac
TRACON, and Honolulu CERAP consolidations in FY 2000 ($1,300K). |
|
| NI | Aeronautical Charting
- The Passback assumes that the aeronautical charting and cartography
function will be transferred from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to the FAA in FY 1999. The FAA requests, that if this
transfer is to tab place, that it occur in FY 2000 rather than FY 1999. This
additional time is needed to ensure that the FAA has the proper authority to
operate the program effectively. For example, the FAA needs the authority to
establish chart prices and to retain the receipts from chart sales to the
public by establishing a revolving hind. This returns revenue to the program
from chart sales. Without this revolving fund, receipts from chart sales go
directly to the Treasury creating the need for an additional $9M in
appropriation. Delaying the transfer until FY 2000 will also provide the FAA
time to incorporate the charting program and its 378 personnel and 3
bargaining units into existing FAA cost accounting and personnel systems and
establish a new revolving fund. |
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| NI | 3,378 | Airspace Redesign -
The expansion of the National Airspace Redesign beyond the eastern half of
the U.S., will result in till increase in expected costs for airspace and
route changes, environmental regulation impacts, and union/agency
collaboration efforts. This expansion will need to occur due to factors such
as Display System Replacement (DSR) delivery at ARTCC's in the western U.S.
and Special Use Airspace issues in the southwest. The ARTCC's must make
airspace changes to facilitate the operational acceptance of this new
equipment. Both NAS users' and Department of Defense's concerns regarding
Special Use Airspace in the southwest U.S. has also placed an additional
need for resources in issue resolution through airspace redesign and
additional costs associated with environmental studies to meet legal
requirements and union/management collaboration efforts. The plans and
designs developed at these meetings are for re-sectorization and
re-alignments needed to support Free Flight Phase 1 and DSR operational
deployment. |
|
| Inc/NI | 3,500 | Increase ill funds is
necessary to continue on-site training for 1,505 air traffic controllers
hired in FY 1997 and 1998, and to begin on-site training for approximately
250 air traffic controllers planned to be hired each year during FY 1999 and
2000 to backfill attrition. After initial training at the FAA Academy, new
hires report to an FAA facility for approximately three (3) years of
facility-specific training. Without the budget increase, new controllers
would not be able to perform any meaningful function until the mandatory
facility-specific training can be accomplished. Field facilities do not have
sufficient personnel resources to assume these additional training duties
($1.2M). Also, all increase in funds is necessary to provide training for
the Northern California TRACON, Potomac TRACON, and Honolulu CERAP
consolidations in FY 2000 ($1.3M). An increase in funds is necessary for a
new requirement to provide training for the Atlanta TRACON consolidation in
FY 2000 ($.5M). In formulating the submission to OMB, we anticipated this
requirement would be needed in FY 2001; since that time the requirement has
been moved forward to FY 2000. Therefore, this request was not included in
the submission to OMB. Increase in funds is necessary for a new requirement
to provide additional support for the Cooperative Education Program ($.5M). |
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