SURFACE SYSTEMS ACCELERATION.

SEC. 216. [49 U.S.C. 40101 note] SURFACE SYSTEMS ACCELERATION. (a) In General.—The Chief Operating Officer of the Air Traffic Organization shall— (1) evaluate the Airport Surface Detection Equipment-Model X program for its potential contribution to implementation of the NextGen initiative; (2) evaluate airport surveillance technologies and associated collaborative surface management software for potential contributions to implementation of NextGen surface management; (3) accelerate implementation of the program referred to in paragraph (1); and (4) carry out such additional duties as the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may require. (b) Expedited Certification and Utilization.—The Administrator shall— (1) consider options for expediting the certification of Ground-Based Augmentation System technology; and (2) develop a plan to utilize such a system at the 35 operational evolution partnership airports by December 31, 2012.