Proposed NASA consolidation of flights at Dryden would cost $25 million a year more than estimated.

a NASA internal report released by Congresswoman Anna Eshoo Tuesday, annual costs would exceed the savings by approximately $1.5 million a year, and one-time start-up costs would add more than $32 million, as a result of the agency's proposed relocation and consolidation of NASA research aviation operations to Dryden Flight Research Facility in southern California.

Earlier this year, NASA estimated that the relocation of research and other flight activities from NASA research centers, including Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, would save the agency more than $23 million a year. The new report was prepared by the NASA Office of Inspector General which challenges the assumptions and data supporting the proposed consolidation of flight activities at Dryden.

"Because Ames Research Center is a vital technological and economic asset in Silicon Valley, NASA must be very careful not to take steps in the name of budget savings which end up costing the nation more money and impair the core research missions of NASA itself," said Sunnyvale Mayor Barbara Waldman. "It would be terribly unfortunate if Ames's research programs became compromised as a result of inaccurate budget assumptions.

"Through the efforts of Congresswoman Eshoo to obtain the critical analysis of NASA's proposal, we have learned that consolidation of flights at Dryden would indeed cost $1.5 million annually, plus one-time costs of $32 million, rather than save a projected $23 million. It would also reduce the integrity of research which depends on NASA aircraft operating out of their research centers.

"For these reasons, I am pleased to see the outcome of the independent recommendation of the NASA Office of Inspector General, which says emphatically that NASA should discontinue its efforts to consolidate aircraft operations at Dryden until it has completed an analysis of the full costs and programmatic impacts."

At its regular meeting tonight (Nov. 14), the Sunnyvale City Council will consider a resolution of support for NASA's Ames Research Center. The proposed resolution would express formal support for the continued operation of the Moffett Federal Airfield by NASA Ames, the Ames Center of Excellence for Information Technology, and the creation of an astrobiology institute at the research center.

"We are working with government, businesses, education and a broad array of organizations to help assure that the NASA does not weaken the role of Ames Research Center through faulty budget decisions," said Waldman. "We are very supportive of NASA's goal to make Ames a center of excellence for the entire nation."

Copies of the NASA Office of Inspector General report evaluating the consolidation of aircraft at the Dryden Flight Research Center can be obtained by calling the City of Sunnyvale at 408/730-7599.

CONTACT: City of Sunnyvale

David Vossbrink, 408/730-7476

Karen Davis, 408/730-7599