the large proportion of inspectors who have not completed all of the mandatory training courses. This problem is severe and is a direct consequence of the unwise, budgetary-driven decisions of the recent past. The safety inspector work force was allowed to drop drastically while the workload was burgeoning as a result of deregulation of the industry. In light of its continuing concerns about the quality of the safety enforcement program, the Committee concurs without exception in the reporting requirements established by the House in section 317 of the bill.

Minimum equipment list

FAA, by regulation, establishes minimum equipment list [MEL] requirements for each type of aircraft. Under the regulation, if an item on the list malfunctions and needs to be repaired or replaced, the repair or replacement should be made at the next available point where it can be done. Allegations have been raised that air carriers have allowed flights to continue beyond places where repairs should be made in violation of the regulation. Moreover, FAA testified before the House Appropriations Committee that the MEL requirements are subject to differing interpretations on the availability of trained personnel, spare parts, and time to perform maintenance at a particular station.

Given the safety inspector resource problems, the improvements needed in the safety inspection program, and the apparent ambiguity in the FAA regulations, the Committee is concerned about the possibility of inordinate delays in effecting repair or replacement of MEL items. Such delays could result in the erosion of the level of redundancy designed into the aircraft to the point where safety might be compromised. Therefore, the Committee directs FAA to report to both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees by December 31, 1987, on the results of its analysis of the procedures followed by air carriers in complying with MEL requirements, whether the intent of the regulation is being violated, the extent of this problem, and its plans for corrective action.

Identification of aircraft operators

The Committee is aware of the need for FAA to have a more complete and up-to-date data base on the identity of aircraft operators. Such information is essential to the proper dissemination of air worthiness directives and monitoring their implementation. Therefore, the Committee directs FAA to proceed as soon as feasible to improve its capability to identify aircraft operators regardless of ownership so that aircraft air worthiness and flight safety can also be improved.

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTION

The Committee recommends $9,597,000 and 136 positions for the planning, directing, monitoring, and coordination of FAA's research, development, engineering, test, and evaluation program, excluding medical activities. This is the same as the House allowance and $186,000 less than the budget estimate due to management and administrative savings.

ADMINISTRATION OF AIRPORTS PROGRAM

The Committee recommends $30,597,000 for administration of the airports program. This is the same as the House allowance. The Committee also concurs in the House decision to restore 38 positions proposed to be eliminated.

Under this program, FAA makes airport safety and certification inspections; assures compliance with safety standards; resolves environmental issues; and carries out other functions associated with airport development and related projects. The Committee believes that increases in these activities are likely to occur with expansion of the airport grants program and the need for additional capacity. In addition, the Committee agrees with the opinion of the House that proposed legislative changes which would reduce the extent of Federal involvement in this program are unlikely to be enacted.

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

The Committee recommends $243,072,000 and 1,209 positions for this activity. The number of positions is the same as the budget estimate and the House recommendation. The recommended funding, however, is $397,000 over the budget estimate, as amended on June 30, 1987, and $190,000 less than the House allowance because of greater anticipated management and administrative savings.

The Committee concurs in the House position regarding the increases needed to assure adequate resources are available for the technical training conducted at the FAA Academy. The Committee also remains concerned about the state of employee morale and the quality of labormanagement_relations. The Committee views the overwhelming endorsement of a new union by air traffic controllers, a majority of whom are new employees hired since the 1981 PATCO strike, as additional evidence that FAA's human relations efforts are not as effectual as they should be. Thus, the Committee expects FAA to address, in its fiscal year 1989 request, the innovative means it is taking to ameliorate the legitimate concerns of its employees and to improve human relations management throughout the agency.

DIRECTION, STAFF, AND SUPPORTING SERVICES

The Committee recommends $76,488,000 and 893 positions for this activity. This is $1,000,000 less than the budget estimate and $137,000 less than the House allowance. These reductions are based on anticipated additional management and administrative savings and also include restrictions on requested increases for supplies, equipment, and travel above the fiscal year 1987 level.

BUDGET PRESENTATION

The Committee concurs completely in the views expressed by the House regarding inadequacies in the FAA budget presentation. The Committee reminds the Adminstration that it has previously called for

improvements in the presentation of the operations appropriation request (S. Rept. 98-179). The Committee also concurs in the House requirement for quarterly reports on the obligations incurred for each activity under the operations appropriation.

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT (AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)

Appropriations, 1987.

(By transfer) Budget estimate, 1988. House allowance..

Committee recommendation..

$804,584,000

(1,914,000)

1,350,000,000

1,170,000,000

1,258,000,000

Under the "Facilities and equipment" appropriation, safety, capacity and efficiency of the Federal airway system are improved by the procurement and installation of new equipment and the construction and modernization of facilities to keep pace with aeronautical activity and in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration's comprehensive National Airspace System Plan.

The bill includes $1,258,000,000 for the facilities and equipment of the Federal Aviation Administration. This is $451,502,000 over the fiscal 1987 level, $88,000,000 more than the House amount and $92,000,000 less than the budget request. The recommended program breakdown follows:

The Committee recommends $479,431,500 for various improvements at air route traffic control (en route) centers. This is a 70-percent increase over the fiscal year 1987 funding level. It also provides $5,500,000 more than the House allowance but is $6,500,000 below the budget estimate. In that regard, the Committee agrees with the reductions made by the House of $2,500,000 for en route software development and support, and $4,000,000 for the data multiplexing network. The major activities funded include: long-range radars, doppler (NEXRAD) and other radar-related systems, air traffic control automation equipment, various communications-related equipments, en route center plant improvements, and the traffic management system.

The Committee's recommendation provides the same funding as the House allowance for each of the programs within this account, except as follows:

Long-range radar program

The Committee's recommendation restores the $5,000,000 reduction made by the House for improvements at various en route radar facilities.

Radar training facility

The Committee recommends deletion of the $5,500,000 added by the House for the radar training facility. The Committee understands that existing funds, including that which was provided in the fiscal year 1987 supplemental appropriations, are sufficient and additional funds are not needed at this time.

Radio tone control equipment

The Committee's recommendation restores $3,000,000 of the $4,000,000 reduction made by the House. ATC center improvements/modernization The Committee's recommendation $4,000,000 reduction made by the House.

restores $3,000,000 of the

ADVANCED AUTOMATION SYSTEM

The Committee has approved the full budget request of $180,000,000 to complete the design competition phase [DCP] for the advanced automation system [AAS] procurement and to start the AAS acquisition phase. The Committee directs that no funds be obligated for the acquisition phase however, until the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations authorize FAA to award an acquisition contract. The Committee will approve an acquisition contract award only after the concerns expressed in its March 1987 letter to the FAA have been resolved to its satisfaction.

The Committee also shares the concerns underlying the House report language concerning both the need for a thorough benefit/cost analysis and the magnitude of projected and actual AAS cost increases. In that regard, the Committee also supports the House view that a design-tocost approach for AAS acquisition may be an appropriate way to restrict additional cost growth as reflected in the House report language. Thus, the Committee also encourages FAA to thoroughly assess the feasibility and benefits of using design-to-cost principles for the AAS acquisition.

AIRPORT TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWERS

The Committee recommends $357,024,100 for terminal area radar, automation, and other tower equipment and facilities. The amount is $22,275,000 less than the budget estimate. The Committee's recommendation also provides $75,850,000 more than the House allowance primarily for weather radar. The Committee concurs in the House reduc

tion of $2,500,000 from the budget estimate for remote maintenance monitoring systems. The amount provided ($30,348,000) is more than 100 percent above the fiscal year 1987 level. The specific differences between the Committee's recommendation and House allowance are as follows:

Terminal doppler weather radar [TDWR]

The Committee's recommendation provides $80,225,000 of the $130,000,000 in the budget estimate which is $70,225,000 above the House allowance for this system. The Committee, however, shares the concerns expressed by the House that the TDWR system be adequately tested before a production contract is awarded. In that regard the Committee directs that the Secretary certify to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations that adequate operational testing has been done and all outstanding technical problems have been resolved prior to contract award. In anticipation that it may be feasible to satisfy these requirements in fiscal year 1988 in time to award a contract and avoid further slippage, the Committee's allowance provides adequate funds to initiate acquisition and installation of the system.

Terminal radar improvements

The Committee's recommendation eliminates the $100,000 above the budget estimate of $12,624,500 added by the House for BRITE radar tower equipment at Gary, IN.

Establish airport surveillance radars [ASR]

The Committee's recommendation of $40,500,000 for establishing ASR-9 service is the same as the House allowance. The amount recommended includes funds necessary to provide ASR-9 service at Gainesville, FL, Nantucket, MA, Mizzoula, MT, and other locations included in the budget.

The Committee also directs that the FAA give priority consideration to acquisition and installation of airport surveillance radar at MedfordJackson County Airport, OR, assuming technical feasibility of the system at this location.

Modernize air traffic control tower/terminal radar approach control [TRACON] facilities

The Committee's recommendation restores the $5,725,000 reduction made by the House for this program. It includes funds for the establishment of mobile air traffic control towers at Bellingham, WA, and Los Angeles County (Whiteman Airport), CA.

FLIGHT SERVICE FACILITIES

The Committee recommends $81,894,000 for modernization, consolidation, and other improvements of flight service facilities. This is the same as the House allowance and the budget estimate in total and for each program activity. For example, the Committee's recommendation provides the $67,500,000 required for the acquisition, consolidation, and relocation of flight service stations. However, the Committee concurs