**GAO-04-901**                      Published: Aug 20, 2004. Publicly Released: Sep 20, 2004.                  

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## Highlights

Since 1981, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been working to modernize its aging air traffic control (ATC) system. Individual projects have suffered cost increases, schedule delays, and performance shortfalls of large proportions, leading GAO to designate the program a high-risk information technology initiative in 1995. Because the program remains a high risk initiative, GAO was requested to assess FAA's progress in several information technology management areas. This report, one in a series responding to that request, has two objectives: (1) to evaluate FAA's capabilities for developing and acquiring software and systems on its ATC modernization program and (2) to assess the actions FAA has under way to improve these capabilities.

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## Topics

Transportation

Air traffic control systemsInformation technologyInternal controlsMission critical systemsPerformance measuresSoftwareSystems managementConfiguration controlQuality assuranceRisk management