Management of Air Traffic Controller Training Contracts

In 2011, the Subcommittee requested that the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General conduct a follow-up review of the FAA’s $859 million contract for the Air Traffic Controller Optimum Training Solution (ATCOTS) program.  The Inspector General had previously published a report in 2010 that highlighted serious shortcomings in the contract, including significant cost overruns ($46 million in overruns in two years), poor procurement practices, and a lack of effective contract oversight.  On June 22, 2012, based on an interim briefing from the OIG, Chairman McCaskill sent a letter to the FAA raising new concerns about the ATCOTS contract. 

In December 2013, the DOT OIG released the second audit report.  The report found that the FAA has made some minor improvements but has failed to address the major problems with program and contract management, including failing to reach key goals. The hearing reviewed the DOT OIG’s findings and examined FAA’s response and plans to improve the management and oversight of air traffic controller training.