A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/1177430
facilities started to work together to discuss operational usage of the IDAC in the coming weeks. The first week of the PHL TBFM work in the Terminal STARS Lab at the Tech Center began during this time. Controllers from PHL came to the Tech Center to work on this project for the two weeks. The TBFM lab tied together with ERAM, Aircraft Simulation software, and Lab Pilots ran the PHL Extended Metering system to STARS, and the PHL controllers worked the aircraft to PHL in a number of different configurations over the two weeks. The responses to the feed that was delivered was overwhelmingly positive, and over the course of the two weeks, certain adjustments to the TBFM settings were made using input by the controllers in the lab. This is part of an ongoing effort of the TBFM Ops Team to work with the controllers in both terminal and En route that will be affected by TBFM redesign work while working towards the NEC goal of improved PHL metering. From PHL Facility Rep. Chris Perks: Seven members from NATCA PHL Local completed testing for the PHL TBFM system and we could not be happier about how well everything went in Atlantic City, N.J. This first-of-its-kind, cross-laboratory testing took months of planning and coordination from the TBFM Ops Team. The PHL TBFM system will dramatically improve working conditions for my brothers and sisters at PHL and we thank Matt Gammon and the team for all their work and look forward to the program moving forward over the next few years. NATCA PHL Local owes a lifetime of gratitude to our brother, Blake Locke, who has been the lead SME for the PHL TBFM system. His leadership was apparent as he directed all the events during the testing. Mr. Locke didn't have a friend in my local when he started his work on our behalf, but now he has dear friends for life. Blake's long hours and hard work for a group of people he didn't know epitomizes our Union's spirit. Terminal Sequence and Spacing (TSAS) Subgroup Lead - Paul Carroll (PCT) - The TSAS Team met during the week of Aug. 5 to finalize the implementation schedule. The team created the schedule to identify milestones and work that need to be achieved to meet the IOC date in 2021. The schedule was forwarded to the Program Office, NATCA, and the FAA to give them a better understanding of the work ahead. During the week of Aug. 12, the team met at the Tech Center to test the TSAS software. We tested the En route swap patch again, which produced good results. The patch eases the restrictions, used in the software, to allow a greater percentage of successful En route swaps during active TSAS operations. We were also able to test software issues from last year on updated software. Most issues have been resolved; however, a few require further software modifications. We have several software fixes that will be released to the ANG lab in September and the Team will perform testing on those during the test weeks in September. With the end of summer approaching, facilities should be able to release the necessary number of SMEs needed for lab testing. The team met for a two-day meeting Aug. 27-28 at Denver TRACON (D01) to work on additional Denver runway configuration adaptations. Contractors from Cavan Solutions