Summary: To meet a large anticipated demand for services by 1990, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to automate flight service stations, enabling pilots to brief themselves. GAO reviewed this plan as a part of an ongoing review of major acquisitions of executive agencies.
The plan will be instituted in three segments called models. The objective of the first model, establishment of a limited-capability automated system at the busiest stations, is already being achieved by other programs and could be eliminated. FAA plans to begin production of the second model after a competitive design verification phase that does not include a software function. GAO felt that the plan could be improved by requiring some functional software development during the initial competitive development phase to insure obtaining a better system. Improvements and additions in the third model will enable pilot self-briefing. As specialists will continue to be available to all pilots, some controls will be necessary to achieve maximum use of the automated system.
