The Advanced Automation System ( Aas ) Essay

733 Words3 Pages
From its conception in 1981, the Advanced Automation System (AAS) was designed to provide an overhaul of America’s major air traffic control computer systems. $1.5 billion worth of hardware and software out of the $2.6 billion spent was futile. The General Accounting Office stated that “ The FAA did not recognize the technical complexity of the effort, realistically estimate the resources required, adequately oversee its contractors’ activities, or effectively control system requirements.” This project was doomed from the beginning; the FAA thought that it would revolutionize how they did their work overnight. The FAA did not consistently follow the proper management approach for obtaining new systems. In the 1980s and early 1990s, FAA did not follow the phased approach of federal acquisition guidance designed to help mitigate the cost, schedule, and performance risk associated with the development of major systems. The agency believed that it could develop and install new systems more quickly by combining several of the five phases outlined in this guidance. But, the result of not following this structured, timed approach, FAA often encountered difficult tasks such as those associated with developing the Advanced Automation System. In 1995, the Congress exempted FAA from numerous federal procurement rules and regulations. In April 1996, FAA implemented an acquisition management system, which emphasized the need for a disciplined approach to acquisition management.
Get Access