Book Description

GAO discussed ways the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could improve overall aviation safety and reduce the costs associated with airport instrument landing systems (ILS), focusing on whether: (1) ILS operated by FAA are justified; and (2) opportunities exist for FAA to reduce the cost of operating and maintaining ILS. GAO found that ILS are not economically justified when the estimated costs of owning, operating, and maintaining them exceeds the quantified economic value of the benefits. Using FAA criteria, GAO identified 22 ILS which did not appear justified and reviewed 40 other ILS which were installed to meet special needs and found that FAA had not collected the data needed to determine whether the systems were meeting those needs. GAO found that FAA could improve overall aviation safety and reduce costs by ensuring that existing ILS are located where they are needed.