Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) program to consolidate and automate its flight service stations, focusing on: (1) whether the new automated system is performing all FAA-required services and the quality of those services; (2) the effect of technical problems experienced at the automated stations; and (3) the effect of staff constraints on automated operations.
GAO found that the automated stations: (1) are performing all FAA-required services, although the manner in which they provide services has changed; (2) do not provide weather observations; and (3) are experiencing technical problems involving computer systems, telephone lines, data lines, and telephone and radio communications. GAO also found that: (1) FAA contracted for weather observation services in areas that permanently closed stations formerly served; and (2) FAA is testing an automated weather observing system to replace the observers. In addition, GAO found that staffing and consolidation constraints: (1) have delayed achievement of anticipated productivity gains; (2) have increased the number of stations with reduced hours that FAA has not been able to close; and (3) will probably continue until consolidation is complete.
