Air Force, FAA continue air traffic control modernization efforts

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HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. (AFPN) --  Air Force sites in Michigan and Arizona joined the growing list of airfields replacing aging legacy air traffic control systems with state-of-the-art technology through the National Airspace System upgrade.

The Alpena Air National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan and Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., recently became the seventh and eighth NAS-equipped sites in the United States. NAS is managed jointly by Defense Department and Federal Aviation Administration experts.

Electronic Systems Center NAS program office experts here are the Defense Department's lead agent for the approximately $3 billion NAS program. The program will enhance about 215 military and civilian airfields nationwide upon completion, said Al Kelley, deputy program director of ESC's Global Air Traffic Operations Mobility Command and Control Office, which oversees the NAS program office.

Of the 215 projected upgraded sites, 110 are civilian and 105 are military. Forty-nine are Air Force, Mr. Kelley said. Program managers expect to complete 12 more sites this year, and all 215 within the next 10 years.

NAS has three main components: the digital airport surveillance radar; the standard terminal automation replacement system, a new display and computer automation system for air traffic controllers; and the enhanced terminal voice switch communications system.

"Each is individually critical, but together the components create a dramatic, positive difference for air traffic controllers," Mr. Kelley said. "In Alpena's case, it was like moving from a slide rule to a laptop computer."

The digital radar is an air traffic surveillance radar system that replaces 1960s-era analog systems with new digital technology. It improves reliability, provides additional weather data, reduces maintenance costs, improves performance and provides digital data to STARS, Mr. Kelley said.

The replacement system accepts data from DASR, which has a range of 60 to 120 miles, he said. It can receive data from many other radars, including longer-range ones. It also accepts from and provides data to the FAA's en route centers, allowing seamless coverage and flight management from takeoff at one airport to landing at another.

The voice switch ties the air traffic controller, aircrews and ground experts into a digital voice communications network, Mr. Kelley said. These communication systems replace existing analog voice systems that are approaching the end of their life cycle, and provide state-of-the-art, air-to-ground, ground-to-ground and intercom communications for controllers of military and civil air traffic.

"The DOD and FAA communication systems have to be fully interoperable," said John Cefali of the program office's NAS deployment team, who managed the Alpena NAS installation. "There are no differences between the FAA and DOD version of the voice communication system and only very minor variances with the new radar and STARS systems."

FAA officials are leading the procurement of both the radar system and voice switch, while ESC on behalf of DOD is the procurement lead for the digital radar, Mr. Kelley said.

As with nearly any program of this magnitude, there have been some problems along the way. Mr. Kelley said setbacks encountered during early rounds of testing put the NAS modernization effort behind schedule.

The eight installations to date and the 12 scheduled for this year are being done under low-rate initial production authority, he said. Program mangers plan to complete testing and be able to move into full-rate production this year, avoiding further program cost and schedule impacts.

The FAA issued its “in-service decision” to go full steam ahead with the digital radar in September. While some work remains to be done to make sure DOD testers are completely satisfied with the system's performance, Mr. Kelley said they continue receiving positive feedback from initial users.

"They see what an astounding leap in capability and dependability this upgrade has provided them," he said.

At Alpena, the user community offered several thoughts during their formal ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"Anytime you can improve your awareness and the accuracy of your information, and anytime you can improve the amount of information you're able to process, you've improved your margin of safety," said Col. James Makowske, Alpena base commander. "It's not that our old system was unsafe, but this is safer because it's newer, better, more reliable and processes much more information."

Direct word from the controllers has also been encouraging for program managers.

"The coverage and presentation of our new radar is awesome," said Senior Master Sgt. Scott Stone, Alpena's air traffic manager. "My controllers love the radar, and even the flight check crew commented on how great our radar coverage is." (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)