National Airspace System. Long-Term Capacity Planning Needed Despite RecentReduction in Flight Delays

摘要

Addressing delay problems requires action by several sectors of the aviationcommunity because no single entity has the authority or ability to solve delay-related problems. The federal government, especially through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its parent agency, the Department of Transportation (DOT), plays a major role by operating the nation's air traffic control system, distributing federal funding for airports, and setting operating standards for commercial aircraft and airports. However, the nation's airports are primarily owned and operated by local units of government, so that decisions about such steps as expanding airport capacity are primarily local in nature. The nation's airlines also play a key role. Their business decisions have a strong effect on the volume and routing of flights, the type and size of aircraft used, and the degree to which aircraft are upgraded to take advantage of new technology. This document examines the aviation community's efforts to reduce delays. We focused our work on the following questions: what initiatives are planned or under way by the federal government, airlines, and airports to address flight delays, what effect are these initiatives likely to have on reducing delays, and what other options are available to address delay problems.