HR 2881 PCS
(7) Any other matters or aspects of planning 
and coordination of the NextGen System by the 
Federal Aviation Administration and the JPDO that 
the Comptroller General determines appropriate. 
(c) REPORTS.— 
(1) REPORT TO CONGRESS ON PRIORITIES.— 
Not later than one year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall determine 
the priority of topics to be reviewed under this sec-
tion and report such priorities to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Com-
mittee on Science and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
(2) PERIODIC REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON RE-
SULTS OF THE REVIEW.—The Comptroller General 
shall periodically submit to the committees referred 
to in paragraph (1) a report on the results of the 
review conducted under this section. 
SEC. 207. GAO REVIEW OF NEXT GENERATION AIR TRANS-
PORTATION SYSTEM ACQUISITION AND PRO-
CEDURES DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General shall conduct 
a review of the progress made and challenges related to 
the acquisition of designated technologies and the develop-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:30 Sep 25, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00080
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2881.PCS
H2881
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
HR 2881 PCS
ment of procedures for the Next Generation Air Transpor-
tation System (in this section referred to as the ‘‘NextGen 
System’’). 
(b) SPECIFIC SYSTEMS REVIEW.—The review shall 
include, at a minimum, an examination of the acquisition 
costs, schedule, and other relevant considerations for the 
following systems: 
(1) 
En 
Route 
Automation 
Modernization 
(ERAM). 
(2) Standard Terminal Automation Replace-
ment System/Common Automated Radar Terminal 
System (STARS/CARTS). 
(3) Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broad-
cast (ADS-B). 
(4) System Wide Information Management 
(SWIM). 
(5) Traffic Flow Management Modernization 
(TFM-M). 
(c) REVIEW.—The review shall include, at a min-
imum, an assessment of the progress and challenges re-
lated to the development of standards, regulations, and 
procedures that will be necessary to implement the 
NextGen System, including required navigation perform-
ance, area navigation, the airspace management program, 
and other programs and procedures that the Comptroller 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:30 Sep 25, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00081
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2881.PCS
H2881
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
HR 2881 PCS
General identifies as relevant to the transformation of the 
air traffic system. 
(d) PERIODIC REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON RESULTS 
OF THE REVIEW.—The Comptroller General shall periodi-
cally submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure and the Committee on Science and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
a report on the results of the review conducted under this 
section. 
SEC. 208. DOT INSPECTOR GENERAL REVIEW OF OPER-
ATIONAL AND APPROACH PROCEDURES BY A 
THIRD PARTY. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Inspector General of the Depart-
ment of Transportation shall conduct a review regarding 
the effectiveness of the oversight activities conducted by 
the Federal Aviation Administration in connection with 
any agreement with or delegation of authority to a third 
party for the development of flight procedures for the na-
tional airspace system. 
(b) ASSESSMENTS.—The Inspector General shall in-
clude, at a minimum, in the review— 
(1) an assessment of the extent to which the 
Federal Aviation Administration is relying or in-
tends to rely on a third party for the development 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:30 Sep 25, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00082
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2881.PCS
H2881
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
HR 2881 PCS
of new procedures and a determination of whether 
the Administration has established sufficient mecha-
nisms and staffing to provide safety oversight of a 
third party; and 
(2) an assessment regarding whether the Ad-
ministration has sufficient existing personnel and 
technical resources or mechanisms to develop such 
flight procedures in a safe and efficient manner to 
meet the demands of the national airspace system 
without the use of third party resources. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
a report on the results of the review conducted under this 
section, including the assessments described in subsection 
(b). 
SEC. 209. EXPERT REVIEW OF ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE 
FOR 
NEXT 
GENERATION 
AIR 
TRANSPOR-
TATION SYSTEM. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall enter into an arrangement 
with the National Research Council to review the enter-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:30 Sep 25, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00083
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2881.PCS
H2881
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
HR 2881 PCS
prise architecture for the Next Generation Air Transpor-
tation System. 
(b) CONTENTS.—At a minimum, the review to be 
conducted under subsection (a) shall— 
(1) highlight the technical activities, including 
human-system design, organizational design, and 
other safety and human factor aspects of the system, 
that will be necessary to successfully transition cur-
rent and planned modernization programs to the fu-
ture system envisioned by the Joint Planning and 
Development Office of the Administration; 
(2) assess technical, cost, and schedule risk for 
the software development that will be necessary to 
achieve the expected benefits from a highly auto-
mated air traffic management system and the impli-
cations for ongoing modernization projects; and 
(3) include judgments on how risks with auto-
mation efforts for the Next Generation Air Trans-
portation System can be mitigated based on the ex-
periences of other public or private entities in devel-
oping complex, software-intensive systems. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to Congress a report containing the results of the review 
conducted pursuant to subsection (a). 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:30 Sep 25, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00084
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2881.PCS
H2881
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
HR 2881 PCS
SEC. 210. NEXTGEN TECHNOLOGY TESTBED. 
Of amounts appropriated under section 48101(a) of 
title 49, United States Code, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall use such sums as 
may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 
2011 to contribute to the establishment by a public-private 
partnership (including a university component with sig-
nificant aviation expertise in air traffic management, sim-
ulation, meteorology, and engineering and aviation busi-
ness) an airport-based testing site for existing Next Gen-
eration Air Transport System technologies. The Adminis-
trator shall ensure that next generation air traffic control 
integrated systems developed by private industries are in-
stalled at the site for demonstration, operational research, 
and evaluation by the Administration. The testing site 
shall serve a mix of general aviation and commercial traf-
fic. 
SEC. 211. CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO 
REIMBURSABLE AGREEMENTS. 
Section 106(m) is amended in the last sentence by 
inserting ‘‘with or’’ before ‘‘without reimbursement’’. 
SEC. 212. DEFINITION OF AIR NAVIGATION FACILITY. 
Section 40102(a)(4) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as sub-
paragraph (E); 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:30 Sep 25, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00085
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2881.PCS
H2881
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
HR 2881 PCS
(2) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) runway lighting and airport surface 
visual and other navigation aids; 
‘‘(C) aeronautical and meteorological infor-
mation to air traffic control facilities or air-
craft; 
‘‘(D) communication, navigation, or sur-
veillance equipment for air-to-ground or air-to- 
air applications;’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (E) (as redesignated by 
paragraph (1) of this section)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘another structure’’ and 
inserting ‘‘any structure, equipment,’’; and 
(B) by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) buildings, equipment, and systems 
dedicated to the national airspace system.’’. 
SEC. 213. IMPROVED MANAGEMENT OF PROPERTY INVEN-
TORY. 
Section 40110(a)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘com-
pensation’’ and inserting ‘‘compensation, and the amount 
received shall be credited as an offsetting collection to the 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:30 Sep 25, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00086
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2881.PCS
H2881
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
HR 2881 PCS
account from which the amount was expended and shall 
remain available until expended’’. 
SEC. 214. CLARIFICATION TO ACQUISITION REFORM AU-
THORITY. 
Section 40110(c) is amended— 
(1) by striking the semicolon at the end of 
paragraph (3) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (4); and 
(3) by redesignating paragraph (5) as para-
graph (4). 
SEC. 215. ASSISTANCE TO FOREIGN AVIATION AUTHORI-
TIES. 
Section 40113(e) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘public and private’’ be-
fore ‘‘foreign aviation authorities’’; and 
(B) by striking the period at the end of the 
first sentence and inserting ‘‘or efficiency. The 
Administrator may participate in, and submit 
offers in response to, competitions to provide 
such services and may contract with foreign 
aviation authorities to provide such services 
consistent with section 106(l)(6). Notwith-
standing any other provision of law or policy, 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:30 Sep 25, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00087
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2881.PCS
H2881
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
HR 2881 PCS
the Administrator may accept payments re-
ceived under this subsection in arrears.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘credited’’ and 
all that follows through the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘credited as an offsetting collection to the 
account from which the expenses were incurred in 
providing such services and shall remain available 
until expended.’’. 
SEC. 216. FRONT LINE MANAGER STAFFING. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall initiate a study on front line 
manager staffing requirements in air traffic control facili-
ties. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study, the 
Administrator shall take into consideration— 
(1) the number of supervisory positions of oper-
ation requiring watch coverage in each air traffic 
control facility; 
(2) coverage requirements in relation to traffic 
demand; 
(3) facility type; 
(4) complexity of traffic and managerial respon-
sibilities; 
(5) proficiency and training requirements; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:30 Sep 25, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00088
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2881.PCS
H2881
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS
HR 2881 PCS
(6) such other factors as the Administrator con-
siders appropriate. 
(c) DETERMINATIONS.—The Administrator shall 
transmit any determinations made as a result of the study 
to the Chief Operating Officer for the air traffic control 
system. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on the results of the study and a description of any 
determinations submitted to the Chief Operating Officer 
under subsection (c). 
SEC. 217. FLIGHT SERVICE STATIONS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF MONITORING SYSTEM.—Not 
later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall develop and implement a monitoring system for flight 
service specialist staffing and training under service con-
tracts for flight service stations. 
(b) COMPONENTS.—At a minimum, the monitoring 
system shall include mechanisms to monitor— 
(1) flight specialist staffing plans for individual 
facilities; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:30 Sep 25, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00089
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2881.PCS
H2881
hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMBILLS