Mr. Steven J. Brown
Associate Administrator
Air Traffic Services
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20591
Dear Mr. Brown:
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has learned of a funding delay that is jeopardizing the delivery of important aeronautical survey data. Specifically, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Office has not been reimbursed for work they commenced in fiscal year 2000. The survey data are critical to a significant number of air traffic programs, and AOPA requests that your office take immediate steps to address the FAA’s financial obligation and ensure the continued delivery of this essential aeronautical data.
NGS currently provides aeronautical survey data to the National Flight Data Center (NFDC) and Aviation System Standards. The data includes precise positional information collected through aerial and ground surveys and is used to develop the Airport Obstruction Chart, instrument approach and departure procedures, and certify airports. The data is also critical to the development of Wide Area and Local Area Augmentation systems and the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
If bills continue to go unmet, the NGS is planning is for a reduction in operations and a possible shutdown of the FAA program. If the FAA does not take immediate action the reduction and shutdown will have a significant negative impact on the National Airspace System (NAS) and future navigation.
In order to ensure the viability of the NAS, we respectfully request your office take the action necessary to meet this financial obligation.
Sincerely,
Dennis Roberts
Vice President
Government and Technical Affairs
May 22, 2000
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