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DOCUMENT RESUME
07621 - [C2928038]
Status of the Federal Aviation Adsinistration's Microwave
Landing System. PSAD-78-149; B-164497(1). October 19, 1978. 29
pp. + 6 appendices (15 pp.).
Report to the Congress; by Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Federal Procurement of Goods and Services: Notifying
the Congress of Status of Important Procurement Programs
(1905); Transportation Systems and Policies (2400).
Contact: Procurement and Systems Acquisition Div.
Budget Function: Commerce and Transportation: Air Transportation
(405).
Orgarization Concerned: Department of Defense; National
Aeronautics and Space Administration; Depar'.ment of
Transportation; Federal Aviation Administration.
Congressional Relevance: House Committee on Armed Services;
Senate Committee on Armed Services; Congress.
The Federal kviation Administration's (FAA's) microwave
landing system (MLS), ;hich is designed to replace existing
instrument and other landing systems, is to be an all-weather
precision guidance system making instrument landings possible at
more locations and providing flexibility in approach paths. It
is expected to be easier to install and maintain and less
expensive than the current system. Findings/Conclusions: A high
level of uncertainty exists in the Department of Transporation
and the aviation community concerning the overall expected
benefits of the MLS. It is generally believed that instrument
landing systems are reliable, safe, and provide efficient
service within technical and operational capabilities. However,
the current system is limited to 40 channel frequencies; it does
not meet military tactical requirements; and it is adversely
affected by. heavy snow, irreqalarities in the terrain. and
structures built close to the runway. The MLS is expected to
overcome these limitations. The total research and development
effort for the MLS program will be between $90 million to $100
million more than originally estimated, No urgent need exists
for the military ILS systems; therefore, to plan for production
deliveries of both civil and milita7 systems in 1985 and an
initial operating capability in 1986 appears unnecessary.
Recommendations: The Secretary of Transportation should:
continue the use of existing instrument landing systems at U.S.
domestic airports in accordance with a mutually agreeable
microwave landing system implementation plan; require FAA to
consider the opinions of users in developing cost-benefit data
and an implementation plan; and require FAA to clearly validate
the technical, operational, and econom~c benefits of the MLS by
conducting a comprehensive demonstration program with clearly
defined evaluation criteria. (PS)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaayex0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)