FAA says first phase of US air traffic control reform will cost $16 billion

WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said the first phase of an ambitious plan to modernize air traffic control will cost billions more than Congress has approved.

Congress last year approved $12.5 billion for air traffic control reforms, including $9 billion for air traffic modernization and $3.5 billion for facilities construction. "It's costing 16 billion dollars to do phase one," Bedford said at a U.S. House of Representative subcommittee hearing, saying the FAA is funding the gap out of its facilities and equipment budget. The FAA wants another $10 billion for phase two of the project.