US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded a more than $70m contract to SAIC for continuing to provide professional services to the office of aviation safety.

The single-award, firm-fixed-price contract has been awarded for a one-year base period with options for four one-year extensions.

Under the deal, SAIC will provide professional services like programme management and technical expertise in aviation, technical engineering, flight safety and safety management systems, federal rulemaking, aeronautical communication activities, aviation weather programmes, and analytical and operations research.

"This work will directly support airlines, airports, general aviation users, and unmanned aerial system / vehicle users."

SAIC will also help develop, review, and implement operational procedures and regulatory and safety policies for air traffic services for NextGen-enabled operational improvements in US airspace.

SAIC senior vice president and federal civilian customer group general manager Bob Genter said: "We are honored to continue to provide the FAA with the expertise needed to support the enhancement of aviation safety, increasing national aerospace system capacity.

"This work will directly support airlines, airports, general aviation users, and unmanned aerial system / vehicle users."

The FAA office of aviation safety looks after the certification, production approval, and continued airworthiness of aircraft.

It also provides certification of pilots, mechanics, and others in safety-related positions.

With 15,000 employees, SAIC provides services and solutions in the technical, engineering, intelligence, and enterprise information technology markets.

Last May, FAA awarded another contract worth $425m to SAIC.

The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract provides training and training programme support services to FAA.

The contract, which has a maximum ceiling of $727m covers mainly Oklahoma city, Washington and air traffic control sites across the country.