A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/1131016
Work is currently being conducted to put together the acquisition package. The hope is to be able to review the package sometime in June. Surface Safety Group (SSG) - The last SSG meeting was cancelled due to the government shutdown, and the next SSG meeting was the week of April 29. At this meeting, we received updates from the three subgroups, the Data Analysis Team, SSIT, and Outreach/Education. We worked on the 2016 SRM action items and the call to action items that are currently yet to be completed. On the items that have yet to be completed, we went through a process of determining the next steps and a work plan in order to show those items completed. These subgroups meet regularly in order to discuss each action item and updates on the work being conducted. I am very proud of the work collaboratively being conducted by the Industry and the Agency during these meetings. History of SSG - The SSG initially reviewed two full years of data (FY 2016/2017) of category A/B/C runway incursion data. In each meeting, we review the last quarters causal/contributing factors for Operational Incidents (OIs), Pilot Deviations (PDs), and Vehicle/Pedestrian Deviations (VPDs). The SSG meets quarterly in order to work through the call to action items and 2016 SRM action items. Wrong Surface Special Focus Runway Safety Action Team (RSAT) - The Runway Safety Group picked nine airports across the NAS that would benefit from a specific wrong surface RSAT discussion. I am presenting at the Special Focus RSAT meeting discussing ATAP and contributing factors to wrong surface events. The nine airports are PHL, BNA, SAT, AFW/FTW, CNO, STS, BOI, LNK, and ATL. Currently, there are three locations (PHL, BNA, CNO) which have completed their Special Focus RSAT. LNK is scheduled within a week. Small Airport Surveillance Sensor (SASS) - The Runway Incursion Reduction Program (RIRP) is a program under NextGen funded by Runway Safety to investigate, develop, test, evaluate, and deploy runway incursion prevention technologies. SASS is a "Proof of Concept" low-cost, secondary surveillance research project to determine if for small airports, technology is feasible. The technology is being investigated in three phases: Phase I - Mode S passive, Phase II - Mode S active, and Phase III - ATCRBS (Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System Mode A & C). Research is being conducted at MIT and I was present for a demonstration as the work is ongoing. I expect the technology to transfer to the Industry near the end of 2020. WEATHER Eric Avila (ZHU) is NATCA's Article 114 Representative for Weather. His report is below: NexGen Weather Processor (NWP)/Aviation Weather Display (AWD)